An Ocean Network Express (ONE) operated ship that lost 1,816 containers in bad weather has berthed in the Port of Kobe in Japan.
A full safety inspection of the Japanese-owned The 14,052-teu ONE Apus (built 2019) and its remaining cargo will now take place.
The inspection will involve local emergency services, which have been brought in to ensure there is no threat from dislodged and damaged containers that remain on deck.
"Once the vessel and cargo are declared safe, surveyors from the various stakeholders will make their initial assessment," according to Singapore-based NYK Shipmanagement.
The NYK line subsidiary, which is the vessel's technical manager, said stowage planners and stevedores will then formulate and implement a plan to ensure the safe removal of the remaining units.
"Then, a thorough evaluation will then be made as to the exact number and type of containers that have been lost or damaged, as well as damage to the vessel," the outfit said.
The ONE Apus was en route from Yantian, China, to Long Beach in the US when it encountered a violent storm that dislodged the containers.
Social media photos show that many unstable containers remain on deck.
The losses also included 64 containers carrying dangerous goods.
Some 54 were carrying fireworks, eight held batteries, while two contained liquid ethanol, the company confirmed.
So far, there have been non sightings of the lost containers.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), a division of the US Coast Guard, has issued maritime navigational warnings.
"We are liaising with the JRCC in Honolulu, who are continuing to broadcast safety messages to marine traffic about the lost containers and sightings," the shipmanager said.
The Japan-flag vessel is covered by the Japan P&I Club and classed by ClassNK.
The ONE Apus is owned by Chidori Ship Holding and operating in the transpacific services of ONE, the liner operating giant of which NYK Line is a part..
Those parties will be involved in a full investigation into what is the largest loss of containers from a vessel ever attributable to bad weather.
The incident is also the largest single loss of containers for many years.
Only the 8,000-teu MOL Comfort (built 2008), which sank off Yemen in 2013 with the loss of 4,293 containers, is bigger.
Since then, losses have fallen to an average of 1,382 containers each year, according to the World Shipping Council.
