Over 70 shipping containers topple off cargo ship into water of Port of Long Beach

An estimated 75 shipping containers fell off the cargo ship Mississippi and into the water at Pier G within the Port of Long Beach just after 9 am on Tuesday (9 September), according to the port. 

Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Long Beach Fire Department, Long Beach Police Department, Port of Long Beach, Army Corps of Engineers and other commercial representatives are responding to the incident. A Unified Command has been established to respond to the incident. 

A smaller emissions capture and control barge was connected to the Mississippi at the time of the accident and was damaged by several fallen containers. From videos captured on the incident, STAX Engineering logo could be seen on the barge with some news reports identifying the affected barge as the Stax 2. 

No other terminals or Port operations have been impacted.

Cargo operations were temporarily suspended at Pier G – although the terminal is open to truckers – as operations continue to ensure the safety of dockworkers and other Port personnel.

Unified Command agencies have dispatched numerous vessels and aircraft to assess the situation and provide assistance. 

The Coast Guard established a safety zone 500 yards around the Mississippi and is issuing marine safety broadcasts every hour to alert other vessels of the navigation and safety hazards.  The Coast Guard is also leading the effort to determine the cause of the incident.

In a later update, sonar surveys were conducted to locate approximately 25 to 30 containers submerged in the harbor to ensure the safe navigation of ship traffic.

In the port’s latest update on 10 September, there has been one reported minor injury related to the incident. 

Salvage operations have begun in order to open a channel to allow ships to safely transit to and from Pier G at the Port of Long Beach.

Responders secured the source of a fuel leak originating from the at-berth emissions control barge moored alongside the container vessel. The tank contained about 2,000 gallons of renewable diesel.

All Port of Long Beach terminals are open and operable as fallen containers are recovered from the water. Pier G is open and operating except for the immediate area about the affected vessel. 

Photo credit: US Coast Guard
Published: 11 September, 2025