MSC ZOE Docks in Germany After Losing 270 Containers Overboard in Stormy Weather

Photo: Havariekommand

Authorities in Germany and the Netherlands are continuing to respond to the loss of an estimated 270 containers from the mega containership MSC ZOE in the North Sea due to stormy weather.

Since the initial incident in German waters on Tuesday night, multiple containers have started washing up on the shore on the Wadden Islands in the northern Netherlands. Meanwhile, the MSC has docked in Bremerhaven, Germany on Thursday after where crews began to inspect the rows of toppled containers.

So far, German authorities have confirmed that at least three containers carrying dangerous goods have gone overboard. At least one of those contains the hazardous substance organic peroxide. A single 25-kilo bag of the substance has washed up on the island of Schiermonnikoog, according to Dutch officials.

Of the 270 containers believed lost, officials said only a few dozen have been located. The containers are mainly filled with car parts, toys, and furniture. About two dozen containers are reported to have washed up on the shores of Vlieland, Terschelling and Ameland, part of Wadden Island chain.

The Panamanian-flagged MSC ZOE is one of the world’s largest containerships. Watchstanders with Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies received a report around 7 p.m. on January 1 that several containers had been fallen overboard from the ship as it was underway in German waters between Vlieland, Netherlands and the German Bight in the southeastern North Sea. The containers subsequently drifted towards the northern Netherlands.

Photos of the vessel shared by Dutch and German authorities show multiple rows of containers collapsed on deck both fore and aft of the ship’s superstructure.

Op de foto’s is zichtbaar dat op diverse plekken containers overboord gingen. pic.twitter.com/gNdkK6Prud

— Kustwacht Nederland (@Kustwacht_nl) January 3, 2019

Foto’s gisteren genomen door het Kustwachtvliegtuig van MSC Zoë. pic.twitter.com/RaCZx8UBor

— Kustwacht Nederland (@Kustwacht_nl) January 3, 2019

Aircraft from both countries have been searching the waters to located any containers still floating on the surface of the water or other signs of pollution. There are also multiple vessels search the waters in the area and attempting to mark or recover any containers they come across.

A warning is out to ship’s in the area to keep a lookout for containers.

Delivered to Mediterranean Shipping Company in 2015, the 396-meter-long MSC ZOE has a capacity of 19,224 TEU.

Read Next: How Many Containers Are Really Lost At Sea Each Year?

Updated: January 7, 2019 (Originally published January 3, 2019)

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