Ajot: Unaffected containers secured on the MV Mississippi at the Port of Long Beach

Salvage and recovery operations continue on the cargo ship Mississippi, with all unaffected containers from the incident secured as of 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14. Salvage experts and port laborers working alongside federal, state, and local agencies will continue securing containers that fell from two affected bays in the coming days.

“In just a few days, we have made significant progress in securing the vessel cargo and recovering containers — all while maintaining the highest standards of safety for response workers and crew onboard the vessel,” said Capt. Stacey Crecy, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles – Long Beach. “This progress was made possible due to the dedication of all participating agencies, vessel managers, the Port of Long Beach, the ITS terminal, and highly skilled ILWU labor working together. Our commitment to safety and collaboration will continue to guide us through the next phases of recovery.”

To date, 32 containers have been recovered from the water around the cargo vessel Mississippi. No signs of pollution have been observed since the initial leak from the emissions barge was secured on Sept. 10. The Unified Command continues to conduct surveys, drone overflights, and dive operations to inform the next steps of the response.

The Unified Command’s top priority remains the safety of response workers, the vessel’s crew, and general public, followed closely by the protection and stewardship of the surrounding environment.

Cargo operations at the Port of Long Beach are ongoing and remain largely unaffected by the incident. A 500-yard safety zone is in effect around the cargo vessel Mississippi. The Coast Guard, Jacobsen Port Pilots, and the Port of Long Beach are working together to facilitate navigation of commercial vessels in accordance with the safety zone. Non-responding personnel are asked to avoid the affected area until further notice. The Coast Guard is broadcasting marine safety information to alert mariners of navigation hazards.

The investigation, led by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board, is ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.