LONG BEACH, Calif. — A cargo ship docked at the Port of Long Beach experienced a major container collapse on Tuesday, triggering an emergency response and halting operations at the terminal.
Port authorities confirmed that around 67 containers slipped or fell from the deck of the vessel Mississippi while it was moored at Pier G. The incident took place near midday, and fortunately, no personnel were injured.
A Unified Command, including the Port of Long Beach and the U.S. Coast Guard, was quickly mobilized to manage the situation, secure the area, and assess environmental risks. Pier G operations were suspended as teams worked to stabilize the scene.
“Our immediate focus is the safety of our staff and the surrounding waters,” the port said in a statement. The Coast Guard reported that a safety perimeter and containment measures were promptly established following the collapse.
Investigators have yet to determine what caused the stack to fail, and officials have not confirmed if any of the containers held hazardous materials.
The Mississippi, operated by an international shipping line, had recently arrived from Asia and was scheduled to unload and reload cargo before departing later this week.
Cleanup and recovery work is underway and is expected to continue for several days. Port officials said operations at Pier G will resume once the area is fully cleared and deemed safe for personnel and vessels.
