MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company informed that it has started a clean-up operation in response to a substantial spill of containers in the North Sea. Namely, the mega container ship MSC ZOE lost over 200 containers during the night from January 1 to January 2 in North sea during rough weather.
As of now, reports mention that about 35 container were washed in Netherlands islands. Their content was scattered around, consisting of car parts and toys.
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However, there are reports that 3 containers include organic peroxides. This substance can decompose very quickly or explosively if it is exposed to only slight heat, friction, mechanical shock or contamination with incompatible materials. These 3 containers, have not been found as of yet.
MSC appointed on 2 January a salvage company to retrieve the cargo and coordinate and beach clean-up operations. It is also deploying specialised ships equipped with sonar to search for missing cargo at sea.
MSC takes this incident very seriously, both in terms of the impact of such accidents on the natural environment and in terms of any damage to customers’ cargo
MSC stated.
The company is now cooperating with local authorities, while the ship proceeded to Bremerhaven for cargo discharge operations. In the meantime, MSC is analysing the causes of the incident.