ONE Continuity: Container Recovery Operations in Progress

A mega container ship operated by Ocean Network Express (ONE) and owned by Seaspan encountered severe weather conditions south of the Canary Islands, resulting in the loss of approximately 45 containers overboard. The vessel was urgently redirected to Las Palmas Port for emergency assistance.

The Singapore-flagged container ship, named ONE Continuity, declared an emergency on December 10 during its Atlantic crossing due to strong waves striking the vessel, which caused significant cargo instability in the aft section. Built in 2008, the ship was carrying over 16,000 containers from Le Havre to Singapore when it altered its course and took refuge at La Luz Port in Las Palmas, docking at the Boluda Terminal.

Initial reports indicated that the severe waves led to the shifting of numerous container stacks. Approximately 100 containers lost their balance, with around 45 of them falling into the ocean. Some containers were also damaged by toppling within the stacks. At the request of the shipowner, authorities conducted an aerial drone inspection to assess the extent of the damage, revealing that about ten rows of containers on the aft side of the ship had collapsed.

Despite the seriousness of the incident, local authorities confirmed that the containers that fell into the sea were empty. Maximiliano Díaz, president of the port workers' union, stated in an interview with Radio Televisión Canaria that the reason the containers broke apart due to the waves was that they were empty, saying, “They fell because they were completely empty.”

While port workers continue their efforts to safely retrieve the damaged containers from the twisted mooring equipment and bring them ashore, repair planning is underway to address the damage to the ship's anchoring and mooring systems.

Following the re-stabilization of the cargo and the completion of repairs, ONE Continuity is expected to resume its voyage towards Asia.

Source: www.denizhaber.com