The Accident of MSC ZOE
On 1 January 2019, 342 containers went overboard whilst MSC Zoe was sailing on the North Sea. In total 345 containers were lost north of the Dutch island Ameland, the remaining containers some hours later north of the German island Borkum. Nineteen of the containers and their contents – including organic peroxides, children's toys, shoes, bags, cushions, chairs, televisions, plastic pellets, and plastic packaging – washed ashore on the Dutch islands of Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog and German island Borkum in the Wadden Sea, a protected UNESCO biosphere reserve. In 2020, the Dutch Safety Board, German BSU and Panama Maritime Authority published a joint report on their investigation of the incident. It notes that the loss of containers occurred over several hours, due to strong rolling and the associated accelerations caused by the prevalent sea conditions at the time. Although it found that the loading and securing of the cargo was in accordance with regulations at the time, it recommended to revise the regulations with special consideration of very large container ships.
Literature
- Krüger, S. und Jannsen, L.: Investigation into the Container loss of the Container Vessel MSC Zoe in the North Sea on 01 and 02 January 2019, TU Hamburg, 2020
- Überbordgehen von Containern von der MSC ZOE 1.-2. Januar 2019, BSU & DSB & PMA, 2020
- Krause, C.: Operational Guidance Manual for an Ultra Large Container Vessel in different Seaway Conditions, TU Hamburg, 2020, Bachelor Thesis