Eight containers fell off of the cargo ship APL Antwerp while conducting offload operations, on July 29, at the Norfolk International Terminal (NIT) in Norfolk, Virginia. USCG issued a warning to inform mariners of these loose cargo containers.
As the US Coast Guard informed, three of the containers have sunk and all other containers have been brought back to NIT. For this reason, USCG warned mariners of loose cargo containers, with marine safety information broadcast being transmitted on VHF-FM radio channel 16 to notify mariners of the hazard.
The US Coast Guard Cutter Razorbill contacted watchstanders at the US Coast Guard Sector Hampton Road command center, and notified them of the loose containers while in transit. Virginia Port Authority reported that eight containers fell off of the cargo ship APL Antwerp while conducting offload operations.
Sector Hampton Roads launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth, and diverted the Razorbill to assist.
The Coast Guard is coordinating efforts with the Virginia Port Authority Maritime Incident Response Team for recovery.