MSC Shipmanagement has been fined $6 million and placed on four years of probation after pleading guilty to failing to report a hazardous engine-control condition and obstructing a US investigation into the 2024 runaway incident involving the container ship MSC Michigan VII.
The incident occurred on June 5, 2024, when the vessel was departing Charleston Harbor and became unable to respond to throttle commands. The ship continued at high speed toward the Ravenel Bridge, prompting authorities to clear traffic from the bridge and surrounding waterway.
The vessel eventually passed safely beneath the bridge before its crew regained control and anchored. However, its wake injured two people aboard a recreational vessel and caused damage to other vessels and waterfront facilities. The US National Transportation Safety Board estimated the damage at more than $500,000.
The US Coast Guard’s investigation found that the ship’s main-engine governor control linkage had become disconnected, leaving the propulsion-control systems inoperable. The vessel was subsequently detained in Charleston and was released only after technicians and port-state-control inspectors verified the operation of its main engine and essential auxiliary systems.
According to the US Department of Justice, MSC Shipmanagement admitted that it failed to report the hazardous condition and obstructed the subsequent federal investigation. The company was sentenced to pay the $6 million penalty and serve four years of probation.
The company’s chief engineer, Fernando San Diego San Juan, was separately fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to failing to report the hazardous condition and obstructing the investigation. He has 14 days to appeal the sentence.
The case highlights the importance of effective maintenance, reporting procedures and safety-management systems aboard commercial vessels. The incident also prompted scrutiny of how hazardous machinery defects were identified, documented and communicated before the ship’s departure.
The $6 million penalty adds to regulatory pressure on shipping companies to maintain robust safety-management systems and ensure that serious technical deficiencies are promptly reported to authorities.
