Containers Overboard off Florida

Posted by Eric Haun December 7, 2015

Barge container ship, Columbia Elizabeth, is towed to Port of Palm Beach, Dec. 6, 2015. While enroute to Puerto Rico, several cargo containers fell overboard off the coast of Port Canaveral, Fla. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Multiple containers have fallen into the sea from a barge off the coast between Port Canaveral, Fla., and West Palm Beach, Fla., Sunday. U.S. Coast Guard crews are responding

The U.S. flagged 136-foot Capt Latham was transiting to Puerto Rico as it tugged a 340-foot barge, Columbia Elizabeth, when crew aboard noticed several cargo containers hanging over the port side of the barge and believed more had fallen into the water while in transit, the Coast Guard said. The Capt Latham terminated its course toward Puerto Rico and diverted to Port of Palm Beach for further investigation.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Miami and a crew from the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell responded to the report to assess the barge.

At approximately 3 p.m., the vessel moored safely in the Port of Palm Beach. It was then determined that up to 25 containers were unaccounted for with an undetermined amount of which fell overboard. Several of the containers were confirmed to be carrying batteries.

One of the containers washed ashore in Port Canaveral.

The Coast Guard is investigating the incident and plans to launch an aircraft to begin searching at sunrise.