Container Loss in Rough North Atlantic Waters
The MSC Houston, a container vessel sailing under the Portuguese flag, lost between 15 to 20 containers overboard on March 20, 2025, while navigating rough North Atlantic waters off southern Portugal. The incident occurred near Cape St. Vincent as the ship battled high seas and strong winds brought by Storm Martinho.
The ship, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), was en route from Piraeus, Greece, to Liverpool, United Kingdom, when it encountered winds reaching 48 knots. The intense weather caused a partial stack collapse, dislodging containers—some of which fell into the ocean, while others remained precariously positioned on the vessel’s starboard side near the stern.
Port Diversion and Recovery Efforts in Spain
Due to its large size and deep draft, the MSC Houston was unable to dock at Portugal’s Port of Leixões, prompting a diversion. The vessel was granted entry to Vigo, Spain, where it arrived on March 21 and berthed at the Guixar Container Terminal, operated by Termavi.
Under the supervision of Vigo Port Authority President Carlos Botana, a safety operation is underway to secure or remove damaged containers. A mobile crane will be used in the recovery process, and surrounding equipment has been cleared to ensure worker safety and protect port infrastructure.
While port authorities have confirmed that the cargo does not pose any environmental or safety risk, the timeline for resuming the ship’s voyage remains uncertain. Inspections and container repositioning are expected to take time as the 266-meter vessel, built in 2010, remains docked in Vigo.
