The Unified Command continues to advance salvage operations at the Port of Long Beach following the container incident on the freighter Mississippi that occurred on Tuesday, September 9.
The Container Recovery Group, in collaboration with salvage crews and members of the highly skilled International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), has recovered 54 containers from the dock and the water, compared to the 32 that had been recovered as of Sunday, September 14. Crews continue to conduct operations on land and in the water to safely recover the remaining containers.
“Safety remains the top priority, as the Port of Long Beach collaborates with the United States Coast Guard, vessel operators, salvage teams, and ILWU workers in the next phases of recovery,” stated Michael Goldschmidt, Port of Long Beach Incident Commander for the Pier G Container Incident Response.
“Our goal is to resolve this incident safely while simultaneously ensuring that goods continue to move in a timely manner through this vital gateway for transpacific commerce,” he added.
In addition to recovering the fallen containers, unaffected containers aboard the freighter Mississippi are being unloaded to safely access the damaged emissions control barge.
Once the barge is removed, salvage teams and longshoremen will be able to focus on removing the damaged containers from the Mississippi. Coast Guard safety officers remain on site to oversee operations and ensure all movements are conducted safely.
The Captain of the Port authorized the safe passage of 55 commercial vessels through the 500-yard safety zone that the Coast Guard had established around the Mississippi, effective until Wednesday, September 17.
“The progress achieved reflects the excellent coordination between agencies and industry partners,” stated Coast Guard Captain Stacey Crecy, Coast Guard Incident Coordinator for the Pier G Container Incident Response.
“The safe transit of 55 commercial vessels demonstrates not only the effectiveness of the implemented safety measures but also the seamless coordination between the Coast Guard, port partners, and industry to keep commerce moving while recovery operations continue,” she added.
The safety zone established by the Coast Guard remains in effect to safeguard navigation and is monitored by Coast Guard small boat crews, the Port of Long Beach Harbor Patrol, and the Long Beach Police Department.
