Coast Guard: Cargo Containers Fall Off Ship Between Port Canaveral, West Palm Beach

By  //  December 7, 2015

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Delicious Digg This Stumble This

up to 25 containers were unaccounted for

Coast Guard crews are responding to reports of multiple containers falling off a barge off the coast between Port Canaveral, Florida, and West Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday. (Coast Guard image)
Coast Guard crews are responding to reports of multiple containers falling off a barge off the coast between Port Canaveral, Florida, and West Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday. (Coast Guard image)

BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Coast Guard crews are responding to reports of multiple containers falling off a barge off the coast between Port Canaveral, Florida, and West Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday.

The U.S. flagged 136-foot Capt Latham was enroute to Puerto Rico as it tugged a 340-foot barge, Columbia Elizabeth, when crew aboard noticed several cargo containers hanging over the port side of the barge and believed more had fallen into the water while in transit. The Capt Latham terminated their course towards Puerto Rico and diverted to Port of Palm Beach for further investigation.

A Coast Guard MH-65 helicopter crew from Air Station Miami and a crew from the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell responded to the report to assess the barge.

At approximately 3:00 p.m., the vessel moored safely in the Port of Palm Beach. It was then determined that up to 25 containers were unaccounted for with an undetermined amount of which fell overboard. Several of the containers were confirmed to be carrying batteries.

VIDEO: Coast Guard Aircraft Hit With Laser, Endangering AircrewRelated Story:
VIDEO: Coast Guard Aircraft Hit With Laser, Endangering Aircrew

One of the containers washed ashore in Port Canaveral.

The Coast Guard is investigating the incident and plans to launch an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft to begin searching at sunrise.