The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(SAN FRANCISCO) — Late Friday evening, 12 containers were washed overboard of the motor vessel Manoa in heavy weather and seas. The containers were empty with the exception of miscellaneous packing material. No hazardous materials were within the containers and no adverse impacts to the marine environment have been reported at this time.
The responsible party has hired an environmental contractor to recover discharged debris and containers. The Coast Guard is currently issuing a safety marine information broadcast urging mariners to exercise caution.
The Coast Guard is currently aware of one container that has come ashore at Baker Beach. An environmental contractor is in the process of removing the container and miscellaneous packing contents from the beach. The Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working in concert with the state of California and city of San Francisco to ensure the containers that are located are quickly and safely removed from the marine environment.
Agencies continue to search for the remaining containers.
If a container is found ashore or approaching shore, the public is urged to exercise caution and to notify the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center at 415-399-7300.
