Large Containership Breaks Free from Mooring at Boston Terminal

MV Helsinki Bridge. Photo: MarineTraffic.com / Christian Schmarje

A large containership broke free from its mooring at the Paul W. Conley Container Terminal in Boston on Wednesday and drifted into the main shipping channel before being corraled by harbor tugs.

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the containership, the 1,065-foot Helsinki Bridge, broke free from its mooring Wednesday at around 12:45 a.m likely due to strong winds.

A docking pilot boarded the vessel, and along with the container ship’s crew, they were able to safely escort the vessel to Broad Sound, where it remained anchored as of Wednesday afternoon.

As many as ten port workers who were working on the ship at the time of the incident, but they were able to disembark safely and with no injuries.

No pollution has resulted from the incident.

An AIS screengrab of the Helsinki Bridge’s past track shows just how far the ship drifted into the main shipping channel before it was brought under control.

The cause of incident remains under investigation by the Coast Guard.

The Helsinki Bridge is flagged in Panama and is operated by Yang Ming on the North American East Coast Loop 2 route.

Here is a local news report on the incident: