MSC ship loses containers in storm off Portugal

An MSC-operated containership lost some of its cargo in a storm while underway in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal.

The Portuguese-flagged 4,432 teu MSC Houston V was on its way from Piraeus in Greece to Liverpool when it encountered rough seas and wind gusts of up to 48 knots as Storm Martinho hit the waters off Cape St Vincent.

At least 15 containers were lost overboard when the vessel suffered a partial stack collapse, and many others were damaged or hanging off the starboard side.

The 266-m-long ship, built in 2010, was forced to make an urgent stop at the port of Vigo in Spain. It is currently berthed at the Termavi Terminal while the port authorities develop a plan to reposition or remove the containers safely.

The port authority said that the terminal has removed the cranes from the area and will deploy a mobile crane to ensure the safety of the stevedores and the terminal itself at all times.

“At this time, it is unknown how long the operation will last. Safety plans and logistics are currently being worked on. The important thing is that the ship is in port and there is no risk to navigation, and especially to fishing vessels due to the vessel’s size,” noted Carlos Botana, president of the Vigo Port Authority.