Large MSC Containership Breaks Moorings and Briefly Grounds at B.C.’s Prince Rupert Port – Video

Strong winds caused a 366-meter-long MSC containership to break free from its moorings and run aground at the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia, Canada.

The incident took place Wednesday afternoon at the port’s Fairview Container Terminal, where the 13,100 TEU capacity MSC Altair was moored.

Thankfully the ship was able to be refloated with the assistance of tugs and suffered no significant damage.

Video obtained by Canada’s Global News shows the ship, which appeared to be nearly full of containers, grounded on the eastern side of Digby Island across from the terminal.

“Multiple tugs have refloated the vessel and it’s now under its own power and will be moving safely to anchorage. No injuries have been reported. Initial reports indicate no significant damage to the vessel and no indications of marine pollution are apparent,” the Prince Rupert Port Authority said in an update.

After the refloating, MSC Altair was brought to the outer harbor with a tug escort and a BC Coast Pilot aboard. Once winds subsided, the vessel was moved to an anchorage to undergo assessment. AIS ship tracking data as of Friday showed the MSC Altair moored at the port.

The incident is the latest weather related shipping accident in the region after the ZIM Kingston lost over 100 containers overboard and later caught fire near the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Another storm cut off nearly all rail and highway access to the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port.

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