Nearly 70 Containers Fall from Mississippi Vessel in California Port

On September 9, 2025, nearly 70 shipping containers fell from the cargo vessel Mississippi while berthed at Pier G of the Port of Long Beach. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. when the Portugal-flagged vessel listed to one side, causing stacks of containers to collapse. According to officials, 67 containers slipped into the water and onto the dock, striking a smaller clean air barge that was connected to the ship at the time. No injuries were reported, but the accident temporarily halted operations at the affected terminal.

A unified command was immediately established, bringing together the U.S. Coast Guard, Long Beach Fire Department, Long Beach Police Department, Army Corps of Engineers, and port authorities. Responders deployed multiple vessels and aircraft to assess the situation. A 500-yard safety zone was set around the Mississippi, with marine safety alerts issued hourly to warn nearby vessels of navigation hazards. Port officials confirmed that other terminals remained operational, minimizing disruption across the broader port network.

The Port of Long Beach, handling more than 9 million containers annually, is one of North America’s busiest hubs. The incident underscores the importance of structural stability in container stacking, berth operations, and auxiliary barge positioning. Investigators are focusing on vessel stability, load management, and potential external factors that may have contributed.

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