(WASHINGTON) — During September and October 2025, multiple incidents occurred at various terminals throughout the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach that involved shipping containers unexpectedly falling overboard from container vessels. In one instance, several fallen containers struck an emission control barge moored alongside the container vessel. A crewmember on the barge suffered minor injuries, while the barge itself sustained significant damage. In a separate incident, four containers nearly landed on a separate emission control barge after ineffective container securing methods were used.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s investigations into these incidents are ongoing. However, preliminary findings indicate that there were no established policies or planning tools in place to account for vessels alongside during cargo operations. Furthermore, the reliance on ad-hoc communication protocols has been identified as a contributing factor in both cases. The Coast Guard strongly recommends that managers and operators of cargo vessels and shoreside facilities:
• Develop and implement written procedures for both shoreside and shipboard management of vessels positioned alongside freight vessels during active cargo operations. These procedures should ensure that vessels alongside are optimally positioned to carry out their primary functions while maintaining awareness of ongoing cargo activities. Vessel placement should minimize the risk of falling containers striking the vessels alongside. In situations where repositioning is not possible, operational priorities should focus on safeguarding the vessels and crew positioned alongside the vessel being actively loaded or offloaded.
• Establish a pre-cargo operations meeting that includes representatives from the freight vessel, vessels positioned alongside, and shoreside personnel responsible for cargo operations. During this meeting, participants should ensure the cargo discharge plan accounts for the presence of vessels alongside and establishes clear communication and notification protocols for addressing any issues related to cargo handling or stability and trim concerns aboard the freight vessel.
This safety alert is provided for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or international safety, operational or material requirement. This safety alert was developed by Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach and distributed by the Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis. Questions may be sent to HQS-SMB-CG-INV@uscg.mil.
– U.S. Coast Guard
