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Salvage Underway After 75 Containers Fall From Ship at Port of Long Beach

Federal investigators have opened a probe into the cause of the collapse.

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The OOCL Utah container ship is seen at the Port of Long Beach on Sept. 9, 2025 in Long Beach, California. Part of the cargo handling operations were suspended as responders work to secure dozens of containers that fell from the Mississipi Madera vessel berthed at a Port of Long Beach terminal Tuesday morning.
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Overview

  • A Unified Command is conducting recovery operations under a 500-yard safety zone, with sonar locating approximately 25 to 30 containers on the harbor floor.
  • Officials now estimate about 75 containers were lost after initial reports of roughly 67 in the water, with some floating and others sunk; no hazardous materials have been identified.
  • A light oil sheen was reported from a damaged clean‑air barge (STAX 2) attached to the vessel, and one worker on the barge suffered a sprained ankle as spill-response crews contained the sheen.
  • Cargo work at Pier G remains partially suspended during salvage, but the rest of the port is operating as the channel near the ship is not yet fully clear.
  • The Coast Guard and NTSB are examining factors such as the release of securing straps during offloading and possible ballast or balance issues; the Portugal-flagged Mississippi arrived from Yantian as shippers and carriers, including Flexport and ZIM, assess affected cargo.