Shipping Containers Blown into Wellington Wharf

 

"Strong northwesterly winds blew at least two shipping containers into Wellington harbour late on Tuesday night. One of the 40-foot containers blew off Wellington's wharf and wound up on Oriental Parade beach. It will be left there until tomorrow," Harbour Master Mike Pryce says.

 

The second container, which is halfway submerged by the Thorndon container terminal, will be recovered with a crane today.

 

Continuing high winds and tidal conditions are hampering the recovery operation which has started. An empty 40-foot shipping container weighs almost four tonnes.

 

CentrePort will launch a comprehensive review of stacking procedures after shipping containers were blown off for the second time in four months. 

 

CentrePort say they aren't able to comment as they are currently focusing on the containers recovery. 

 

"A comprehensive review of container stacking procedures is under way," the port said in a statement.

 

In March, three orange shipping containers were retrieved from Wellington Harbour after a storm. In 2013, a shipping container fell from the wharf into the harbour following a magnitude-6.5 quake.