Unified Command has reported ongoing progress in recovery efforts following the Mississippi container incident at the Port of Long Beach on 9 September.
The Container Recovery Group, in coordination with salvage crews and International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) members, has retrieved 54 containers from pier and water—up from 32 on 14 September.
Shoreside and waterside operations continue to prioritise safe recovery of remaining containers.
Michael Goldschmidt, Port Incident Commander, stated: “Safety continues to be the highest priority as the Port of Long Beach collaborates with the U.S. Coast Guard, vessel operators, salvage teams and ILWU workers through the next phases of recovery.”
Unaffected containers aboard the Mississippi are being offloaded to allow access to a damaged emissions control barge.
Once cleared, efforts will shift to removal of compromised containers. Coast Guard safety officers remain on-site to oversee operations.
As of 17 September, 55 commercial vessels have transited safely through the 500-yard exclusion zone imposed around the Mississippi.
The safety zone remains in effect and is enforced by the Coast Guard, Port Harbor Patrol and Long Beach Police Department.
Investigations into the cause are ongoing, led jointly by the U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board.
On 15 September, 32 containers were successfully recovered from the waters surrounding the Mississippi.