A container ship encountered severe weather off the coast of Spain last week, resulting in the loss of several containers overboard and damage to cargo stacks on deck.
The Portuguese-flagged container vessel Maria Francisca ran into heavy seas on January 14 while sailing from São Tomé toward northern Iberian ports. During the storm, part of the container stacks collapsed, causing a number of units to fall into the sea, while others were left damaged or displaced. Authorities later confirmed that none of the lost containers contained hazardous cargo.
As a result of the incident, the vessel developed a significant list to port. The crew managed the situation by reducing speed and taking additional safety measures until assistance arrived. The ship was subsequently towed to the port of Vigo, where she was safely berthed.
No injuries or pollution were reported. After arrival, port operations began to secure, remove, and reposition damaged containers. Surveyors and insurance representatives were dispatched to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate further actions.
The Maria Francisca is a container ship built in 2004, measuring nearly 193 metres in length, with a gross tonnage of over 23,000.
