Floating containers were removed from the site where they are conducting a sonar search for debris under the surface (US Coast Guard).
The Port of Long Beach, California, says all of its terminals are back in operation a day after a dramatic container collapse on a vessel at the dock. Pier G, where the Mississippi is docked, is open and operational, except for the immediate area around the vessel.
In a statement issued Wednesday, a day after the accident, the Port of Long Beach said there was one minor injury from the incident. They narrowly avoided a worse situation, especially with the waste barge that was next to the container ship and was attached to it when some of the containers fell onto the barge. The U.S. Coast Guard says the barge sustained damage. Other containers fell onto the dock next to the vessel.
Additional videos have been released showing the sequence of events. After the first collapse, it appears the area around the vessel was cordoned off with ropes to prevent another collapse. The situation continued as additional boxes hanging from the ship also collapsed and fell overboard.
The Joint Incident Command, which includes federal, state and local officials, is working to ensure the cargo containers are recovered. The Coast Guard has increased the estimated number of containers to 75 from 67 reported yesterday.
Sonar surveys are being conducted to identify an estimated 25 to 30 containers that have sunk in the harbor to ensure safe navigation. The Coast Guard is maintaining a 500-yard safety zone and a salvage plan is being developed and will be implemented as soon as possible.
The port said the cargo manifest listed shoes, clothing, furniture and electronics. The ship is operating one of Zim’s express services, making only four calls to ports: Vietnam, China and California. Television footage from the port showed a chair floating in the water, as well as a package of slippers washed ashore.
The Long Beach Fire Department used one of its fire boats with powerful jets to collect and direct the containers. They were seen pushing them to the pier, as well as port boats used to push the boxes to the dock. The port said on Wednesday that the fallen containers had been lifted.
Speculation is growing about the cause of the incident. It is unclear whether the ship, which arrived earlier in the morning, had begun processing the containers. A published schedule indicated it was scheduled to depart later today for a return trip to Vietnam.
The Mississippi, registered in Portugal, was built in 2024. It has undergone five port inspections, the last of which took place in April 2025 in Shanghai. It was accused of deficiencies, including in the flight data recorder and crew safety instructions, but there was no detention.
Operations are underway at the port to stabilize containers on board the vessel, including several that continue to hang over the side of the vessel, as well as collapsed stacks. The US Coast Guard reports that it, like the National Transportation Safety Board, will lead the investigation into the incident.