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1. Quick summary of the incident

Time & location: Before 9:00 a.m. on September 9, 2025, the 65,949 DWT ZIM Mississippi was berthed at Pier G (ITS terminal), Port of Long Beach, California.
Scale: Around 67 containers fell overboard, some into the water and some onto the STAX 2 clean-air barge moored alongside. No injuries were reported.
Voyage origin: The vessel is Portugal-flagged and departed Yantian – Shenzhen, China on August 26, 2025, before arriving in the US.
A port spokesperson confirmed the figure was later updated to 67 and that all Pier G operations were temporarily suspended to ensure safety and recovery.

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2. Emergency response: unified command and maritime safety

The Port of Long Beach and federal agencies established a Unified Command including:

US Coast Guard
Long Beach Port Authority
Long Beach Fire Department
US Army and related agencies

Measures taken included:

Enforcing a 500-yard safety zone around the incident site.
Issuing regular maritime safety broadcasts.
Deploying patrol boats, helicopters, and fireboats to recover drifting containers and secure the site.

Images released by USCG District 11 showed patrol vessels and fireboats establishing safety corridors while investigations began.

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3. Preliminary causes and direct damage

Cause under investigation. Witness accounts suggested the accident began when lashings were released too quickly, creating a “domino effect” of falling containers. This is not yet an official conclusion.
Direct damage: The STAX 2 clean-air barge sustained impacts from multiple falling containers. Pier G is operated by International Transportation Service (ITS).
Cargo & pollution: No pollution has been reported. Early reports indicated the containers held footwear, apparel, and electronic components for major US retailers such as Costco, Target, and Walmart. These details remain under verification by port authorities.

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4. Port of Long Beach context and risk of wider disruption

The Port of Long Beach, part of the San Pedro Bay port complex with Los Angeles, is one of the busiest gateways in the US, handling about 40% of the nation’s containerized imports.
The suspension at Pier G could lead to congestion and local delays on US West Coast services.
Other terminals remain operational, but salvage and safety priorities could result in schedule reshuffling in the short term.

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5. Expert assessments and media coverage

Los Angeles Times described the event as an “accident,” noting that the Coast Guard has opened a preliminary investigation.
ABC/KABC reported that containers began to topple when “lashings were released,” raising questions about handling procedures and stack stability.
Seatrade Maritime and WorldCargoNews highlighted that the vessel was ZIM-chartered, and that the collision with the clean-air barge made this one of the largest pier-side container losses in recent years.
Reuters emphasized the 67-container figure and noted that Long Beach is the second-busiest container port in the US, raising market concerns about knock-on effects in supply chains.

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6. What businesses should do now

6.1. Check and communicate

Review manifests/Bills of Lading for shipments on the ZIM Mississippi or routed via Pier G/ITS around September 9.
Contact carriers or forwarders for container status updates (especially FCL cargo from Yantian).
Monitor updates from the Port of Long Beach and US Coast Guard over the next 24–72 hours on salvage and terminal reopening.

6.2. Risk management and documentation

Engage with cargo insurers and P&I Clubs where applicable to file preliminary notices of loss.
Prepare contingency plans for transshipment via alternate San Pedro Bay terminals if delays continue.
Update Incoterms and delivery clauses in ongoing negotiations to reflect potential risks of delay.

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7. Conclusion

The 67-container loss from the ZIM Mississippi at Pier G – Port of Long Beach is a rare but serious pier-side incident that forced the suspension of terminal operations, establishment of a Unified Command, and enforcement of a 500-yard safety zone.

While there were no injuries and no pollution reported, the event has already caused local disruptions and could ripple into broader supply chain scheduling.

👉 Importers and exporters should proactively review cargo status, engage insurers and forwarders, and follow official updates closely to minimize disruption.

Other images of the incident: