The container ship MSC Houston V, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), encountered extreme weather near Portuguese waters, resulting in at least 15 containers falling into the sea, and it is speculated that more containers were damaged due to stack collapses.

On Thursday, the MSC Houston V was en route from the Port of Piraeus, Greece, to the Port of Liverpool, UK, when it was suddenly hit by Storm "Martinho" off Cape St. Vincent, Portugal.

At the time, fierce winds with speeds of up to 89 km/h whipped up huge waves, causing the container stacks on the deck to collapse like dominoes.

It is reported that at least 15 containers fell into the sea and went missing, with the container stacks severely twisted and deformed. Some containers were left hanging precariously over the side of the ship, and the damage to containers on the starboard side of the stern was particularly severe.

The crew urgently activated emergency plans, interrupting the voyage and diverting to the Port of Vigo, Spain, the next day to seek shelter.

Although the storm was the direct cause of the accident, preliminary investigations point to deeper underlying issues: some container securing devices failed under extreme forces, suspected to be due to inadequate lashing or improper stowage; questions have also been raised about whether the ship adjusted its course or reinforced its cargo in advance to cope with the extreme weather.

The ship is currently docked at the Termavi terminal in the Port of Vigo, where Spanish maritime authorities, in collaboration with the classification society, are conducting a thorough inspection of the hull structure and cargo lashing system. The search for the fallen containers and an environmental impact assessment are also underway.

【MSC Houston V】

Built in 2010 by Hyundai Ulsan Shipyard in South Korea, the ship has an overall length of 266.7 meters and a maximum container capacity of 4,432 TEU, classifying it as a medium to large-sized container ship.