(LONG BEACH, Calif.) — The unified command on Friday announced that all 95 containers that fell overboard from the cargo vessel Mississippi at Pier G have been recovered in and around the Port of Long Beach.
Early counts for the number of containers overboard increased from the original estimate as some units were crushed, submerged or hidden from view in the nearby boat basin.
At approximately 3:28 p.m., the final container was lifted from the water, marking the end of salvage operations for the incident.
“Every decision during the Pier G container incident was centered on safety – whether it was divers working to recover containers in the basin or around the hull, evaluating vessel transits through the safety zone, or crews conducting container operations day and night,” said Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy, Coast Guard incident commander. “By bringing in experts from across the country and working closely with the Port of Long Beach and our partners, we completed a complex salvage operation and restored safe operations within a few weeks.”
Recent response actions included:
• Deploying side-scan sonar and remotely operated vehicles to locate submerged containers.
• Using dive teams to inspect the bottom of Mississippi and assist in recovering containers around the vessel.
• Repositioning the vessel with a tugboat, pilot vessels and line handlers to access containers trapped beneath the bottom of the vessel.
• Reducing a 500-yard safety zone to a 100-yard safety zone as operations moved forward, and maintaining hourly information broadcasts to keep mariners informed.
All vessel traffic restrictions were lifted following the completion of the dive operations on Friday, and vessel transits near Pier G no longer require captain of the port approval. One hundred forty-two vessel transits were authorized during the salvage operations phase of the response, ensuring continued operations in the busy port complex.
The pollution response, salvage, and Marine Transportation System recovery groups have since been demobilized. Pier G terminal operations have been fully restored, and port traffic is now continuing without restrictions.
“This was an extremely rare event that required a complex and unique salvage operation,” said Michael Goldschmidt, Port of Long Beach incident commander for the Pier G container incident response. “We are grateful to the Coast Guard, vessel managers, salvage teams and the highly skilled ILWU workers for expediting a safe and speedy return to normal operations.”
The Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board continue to lead the investigation into the cause of the incident.
– Port of Long Beach
