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Coast Guard Secures OOCL Sunflower at Long Beach After 32 Containers Lost, 57 Damaged

A 100-yard safety zone is in place as officials report no initial hazardous releases.

Overview

  • The vessel arrived last week and initially held offshore for assessments and emergency lashing before berthing in Long Beach.
  • The Coast Guard set a 100-yard safety zone around the ship to protect stabilization work and prevent additional cargo from falling.
  • Crews reinforced unstable stacks with straps, chains, and turnbuckles, and contractors conducted visual inspections plus air-quality and heat monitoring.
  • Heavy North Pacific weather near the Aleutian Islands, with reported seas near 20 feet, triggered the cascading collapse of container stacks.
  • Authorities are preparing a controlled removal and cleanup operation that could begin as soon as Thursday, with container contents still unconfirmed.