A total of 23 crew were safely evacuated from the container ship ‘MSC Matilde’, after the vessel reported a significant list in dock at the Port of Liverpool, UK, in the early morning hours of 24 May.
HM Coastguard was contacted by Peel Ports VTS at around 2.25 am Friday, to report that the ‘MSC Matilde was listing.
The general cargo vessel was reported to have 2,184 containers onboard, the majority of which were empty.
Crosby Coastguard Rescue Team and the RNLI Hoylake all weather lifeboats were sent to the scene, while two tugs and a tier 2 pollution response vessel were also on standby as a precautionary measure.
The MCA’s Duty Counter Pollution & Salvage Officer, Duty Surveyor and the Marine Accident Information Board (MAIB) and the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime, Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) were all informed.
The 23 crew, including the Master, were taken off the ship as a precautionary measure whilst a ballast transfer took place.
The crew returned to the ship after the ballast transfer around 8 am.
There were no reports of injuries, loss of cargo or damage to ship and operations are back to normal.
Authorities are investigating probable causes of the incident.
