A Hapag-Lloyd boxship lost some of its cargo in rough seas before releasing fuel-oil Thursday into a container port off New York City's Staten Island, an offical said Saturday.

The 4,121-teu Dublin Express (built 2002) dropped 16 containers in stormy weather Thursday while sailing from Florida's Port Everglades to New York City's Staten Island.

The company said Friday the ship spilled oil from a 40-centimetre hole in its hull Thursday evening while unloading boxes at Global Marine New York Container Terminal.