SAN PEDRO — Three shipping containers fell into the water at the Port of Los Angeles this week, prompting a multi-agency response and temporary safety restrictions as crews worked to recover the containers and protect vessel traffic in the area.
The incident occurred on Sept. 14 at approximately 11:20 a.m. during cargo operations near Berth 302, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Three 40-foot containers entered the water, bringing Coast Guard personnel, Los Angeles City Fire Department crews, and Los Angeles Port Police to the scene. No injuries were reported.
One of the containers was recovered, while the other two sank. Authorities identified and marked the locations of the submerged containers as recovery efforts continued.
Although the sight of cargo containers disappearing beneath the surface raised questions about what they were carrying, the Coast Guard reported that the ship’s manifest listed the contents of all three containers as non-hazardous.
The submerged containers nevertheless created a potential navigation hazard in one of Southern California’s busiest commercial waterways.
In response, the captain of the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach established a temporary 400-yard safety zone surrounding Berth 302. Vessels and individuals were prohibited from entering, transiting through or loitering within the zone without permission from the captain of the port or a designated representative.
For recreational boaters operating around San Pedro Bay, the incident is a reminder that an object does not have to contain hazardous material to pose a hazard on the water. A partially floating or submerged shipping container can be difficult to see and potentially dangerous to vessels operating nearby.
Initial reports from the Port of Los Angeles indicated that one container remained visible at the surface while two were underwater. Marine units from Port Police and the Los Angeles Fire Department responded shortly after the containers went overboard.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation. Authorities had not publicly identified a cause as of Sept. 15.
The event also comes roughly a year after a much larger container-loss incident at the neighboring Port of Long Beach. In September 2025, dozens of containers went overboard from the containership Mississippi, resulting in an extensive recovery effort.
While this week’s incident at the Port of Los Angeles is significantly smaller, the presence of submerged containers required authorities to secure the surrounding waterway while recovery operations continued.
Boaters traveling in or around Los Angeles Harbor should follow current Coast Guard Broadcast Notices to Mariners and comply with any active safety zones or instructions from authorities.
The Coast Guard said additional information would be released as response operations continue.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. Information regarding recovery operations, waterway restrictions and the investigation may change after The Log goes to press. Boaters should check current Coast Guard notices before operating near the affected area.
