Containers Adrift in Oakland Estuary
Containers fell into the water from motor vessel NYK Aquarius while offloading cargo at SSA Facility Berth 57 in the Oakland estuary, causing the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and local fire department personnel to enforce a safety zone in the area.
At approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders received a report of three drifting containers in the Oakland estuary. Coast Guard Station San Francisco launched two response boatcrews to maintain a 500-yard safety zone with Alameda County Fire Department and Oakland Fire Department crews. Coast Guard crews safely escorted dinner cruise vessels to their berths in Oakland until the containers could be safely removed.
Tug boat Patricia Ann arrived on scene and pushed all three containers alongside the dock to be picked up by a crane.
The containers did not contain any hazardous material, and no injuries were reported.
The USCG is assisting with a preliminary investigation into the incident.