No one was hurt and the incident took place when a crane operator unintentionally hit the containers while unloading other units from the ship, a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesperson reportedly told the newspaper.
"The containers were non-hazardous and were floating at the time of arrival," the port authority said. "The vehicles had no batteries, fuel or any liquids which may have entered the bay."
The vessel, the Maersk Kensington, was being unloaded at the APM Terminals facility in Port Elizabeth after arriving from Norfolk, Virginia.
According to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting, the 6,200 TEU Maersk Kensington serves on the carrier's MECL service, which connects the US Gulf and East Coast with the Mediterranean, Middle East and Indian subcontinent, American Shipper reported.