Salvage and recovery operations continue on the cargo ship Mississippi, with all unaffected containers from the incident secured as of 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 14, the Port of Long Beach said.

It noted that salvage experts and port laborers, working alongside federal, state, and local agencies, will continue to secure containers that fell from two affected bays in the coming days.

On September 9, 2025, the MV Mississippi, a 5,500-TEU container vessel chartered by ZIM, was involved in a major cargo spill at Pier G of the Port of Long Beach. During unloading operations, approximately 67 containers toppled from the ship—some plunging into the harbor and others crashing onto a nearby clean-air emissions barge, causing structural damage. The fallen containers, many carrying consumer goods like electronics, clothing, and furniture, temporarily halted operations at the terminal.

No injuries were reported, but the U.S. Coast Guard established a 500-yard safety zone around the vessel and launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.

"In just a few days, we have made significant progress in securing the vessel cargo and recovering containers — all while maintaining the highest standards of safety for response workers and crew onboard the vessel," said Capt. Stacey Crecy, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles – Long Beach.

"This progress was made possible due to the dedication of all participating agencies, vessel managers, the Port of Long Beach, the ITS terminal, and highly skilled ILWU labor working together. Our commitment to safety and collaboration will continue to guide us through the next phases of recovery."

To date, 32 containers have been recovered from the water around the cargo vessel Mississippi.

The Port of Long Beach noted that no signs of pollution have been observed since the initial leak from the emissions barge was secured on September 10, but clarified that the Unified Command continues to conduct surveys, drone overflights, and dive operations to inform the next steps in the response.

"The Unified Command's top priority remains the safety of response workers, the vessel's crew, and general public, followed closely by the protection and stewardship of the surrounding environment," it said.

Operations unaffected 

"Cargo operations at the Port of Long Beach are ongoing and remain largely unaffected by the incident," the port added.

The Coast Guard, Jacobsen Port Pilots, and the Port of Long Beach are working together to facilitate navigation of commercial vessels in accordance with the safety zone. Non-responding personnel are asked to avoid the affected area until further notice. The Coast Guard is broadcasting marine safety information to alert mariners of navigation hazards.

ZIM earlier confirmed the incident: "Zim is actively cooperating with local port authorities and relevant agencies to contain the situation and assess any potential environmental impact," it said.

The Port of Long Beach said the investigation, led by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board, is ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.