Empty container located, shipping channel reopened

SAN FRANCISCO – The shipping channel into the Oakland Estuary was reopened at approximately 11:30 a.m., today, after an empty container was located outside of the shipping channel 200 yards off berthing 38.

The Coast Guard had closed the shipping channel to deep hulled vessels as a precaution after a report of an empty container falling off the container ship Sun Right at approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday evening. The empty container sank near the entrance to the Oakland Estuary.

The container is scheduled to be removed from the estuary Monday.

The vessel Sun Right was at the Ben E. Nutter Marine Container Terminal in Oakland when a crane, loading empty containers onto the ship, knocked one into the water. The container sank before Coast Guard Station San Francisco arrived on scene.

The Port of Oakland has contracted Parker Diving to locate the empty container using depth sounders and divers.

The Coast Guard broadcast a Safety Marine Information Broadcast every two hours to inform all mariners of the situation.


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