The Port of Charleston in the US is now open again following its evacuation due to a threat of a ‘dirty bomb’ onboard the Maersk Memphis container ship, USCG officials confirmed that no threat found. Also, the safety zone which had been established around the vessel for the investigation, has been lifted.
#update there were 4 containers where threat was posed at terminal in Charleston, SC. These have been scanned and cleared by authorities.
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) June 15, 2017
A ‘dirty bomb’ definition is used for an explosive made with radioactive material. USCG officials were made aware of the potential threat at about 8 p.m. local time Wednesday night and immediately took action.
Maersk Line said it had been informed by the USCG about the threat onboard one of its container ship when it arrived at the port. All crew were evacuated from the vessel and the company confirmed they are all safe and ashore. The vessel arrived at the port from New York and prior to that sailed from Oman, according to Reuters data.
The four suspicious containers onboard Maersk Memphis were all scanned and cleared by authorities. USCG said that the original reporting source of the threat in the South California port has been detained for further questionin.
