The VTE port of Pra' has been blocked since Sunday due to 19 containers from the MSC Mariagrazia ship that fell into the sea

Closed due to floating and sunken containers. The Genoa Port Authority issued an order on Monday, November 10, closing the waters within the port of Voltri Prà following the fall of 15 containers from the container ship MSC Mariagrazia, docked at the PSA terminal. In the order, the maritime authority specifies that "the exact location of the containers that fell within the port basin of the port of Voltri Prà during commercial operations is unknown, and that they are still submerged and therefore dangerous to navigation

For these reasons

For these reasons, "the internal waterway of the port facing the operational quay of the 'PSA Genova Prà SPA' terminal, from the date of issuance of this letter until the containers have been recovered, is closed to navigation," meaning no vessels will be allowed to enter or leave. With the exception of "Coast Guard 

The PSA Genova Prà terminal

The PSA Genova Prà terminal, "once all the containers have been recovered and made safe, will be required to notify the Port Authority that the Ordinance has ceased to be in force and that the recovery operations have been completed, specifying that the waters are to be considered safe."

An investigation into the incident

The Port Authority has opened an investigation into the incident, both regarding what happened on board and the recovery operations. Photos in the possession of Repubblica suggest a collapse on board, and the Port Authority will need to determine whether there was any negligence or error during the lashing process, i.e., the process of securing cargo and containers to a ship. One of the most likely hypotheses is that the stack of containers, all of which were unladen, was destabilized by a gust of wind, causing them to fall.

How the incident happened

It is noteworthy that regarding the incident, the container terminal announced that "on Sunday afternoon, likely due to a sudden and abnormal increase in winds, a vessel docked at the terminal lost several empty containers overboard. The Port Authority was immediately informed, and the shipping agency provided all documentation relating to the affected containers. At the Port Authority's direction, recovery operations were promptly initiated with the support of divers, tugboats, and mooring workers. The terminal immediately provided full cooperation and assistance to the vessel, which was able to continue loading and unloading operations safely."In addition to the MSC Mariagrazia, the container ships CMA CGM Ambition and Hyundai Marsare also 'blocked' in the port of Genoa Pra'.

Related : Container MSC carrying “hazardous cargo” Sunk off Kochi coast

According to initial investigations, there were no injuries or contamination. Four containers were recovered immediately, while 15 sank. Location and recovery operations are underway. Three have already been recovered today, with another 12 still to be recovered.

MSC is conducting sonar surveys to locate them. The depth of the port of Prà is between minus 14 and minus 17 meters . Navigation has been suspended by order of the Port Authority for safety reasons.

Source : Italian Media

MSC Mariagrazia,, CMA CGM Ambition , Hyundai Marsare, Navigation suspended , port of Genoa Pra' , containers falling overboard , 'PSA Genova Prà SPA' terminal ,15 containers