Crew Disembarked as Listing Container Vessel Receives Ballast Transfer

UK – Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) announced that early morning on May 24, the container ship MSC Matilde was found to be listing in dock at the Port of Liverpool, UK. The general cargo vessel was reported to have 2,184 containers on board, the majority of which were empty.

After the Port of Liverpool's owners, Peel Ports, contacted the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Subsequently the Crosby Coastguard Rescue Team and the RNLI Hoylake all weather lifeboats were sent to the scene, two tugs and a tier 2 pollution response vessel were also on standby as a precautionary measure.

As an additional precaution to ensure the safety of the 23 crewmembers on board, they were disembarked from the vessel whilst a ballast transfer took place in order to correct the listing. There were no reports of injuries, loss of cargo or damage to ship and operations are now back to normal. The cause of the incident is still being analysed by the relevant authorities.