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Safety Alert

Date 11 September 2026

Container Operations with Vessels Alongside

 

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a Marine Safety Alert regarding container operations involving vessels positioned alongside container ships.

During September and October 2025, several container vessels operating in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach experienced incidents in which shipping containers unexpectedly fell overboard during cargo operations. One incident resulted in containers striking an emissions control barge, causing minor injuries to a crew member and significant damage to the barge. Another near-miss exposed similar risks.

Preliminary USCG findings indicate that the absence of formal procedures for managing vessels alongside container ships and inadequate communication during cargo operations were contributing factors.

The Marine Safety Alert 04-26 provides additional details about these incidents and outlines the USCG’s recommendations for managers and operators of cargo vessels and shoreside facilities, including:

  • establishing written procedures for the safe positioning of vessels alongside container ships and, 
  • conducting pre-operation coordination meetings to ensure effective communication, risk assessment, and cargo handling planning.
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