MSC pledges to find all containers lost from MSC Zoe and cover costs

The vessel MSC Zoe lost 270 containers overboard on 2 January in bad weather off the coast of the Netherlands including some boxes that reportedly contained highly flammable, potentially dangerous organic peroxides. Some of the containers have washed up on both the shores of the Netherlands and Germany.

Read more: MSC vessel loses containers in North Sea storm

MSC said it wanted assure the authorities and public in the Netherlands and Germany it was committed to paying the full costs of the clean-up.

“MSC is committed to continue searching the sea for the containers which fell overboard, until the last one is found. MSC will also ensure that the beaches of the Dutch and German coastlines are surveyed until all debris related to this incident has been cleared,” MSC said in a statement.

Watch - Video of damage to containers on the MSC Zoe

The shipping line has appointed Ardent Global to coordinate the search at sea for missing containers lost from the vessel.

“Other specialist response companies already appointed by MSC continue to work with authorities and members of the public on beach cleaning, as previously communicated,” it said.

MSC would not comment on the cargo carried in the containers lost overboard and said it was not aware of any injury to the public from the cargo on board. However, it also said: “Members of the public are nonetheless advised to exercise caution when encountering containers or other materials on the beaches and to report any discoveries to local authorities, in order that they can relay the information to those in charge of the clean-up operation and avoid any unnecessary personal injury.

“Caution should be applied in particular for any containers or drums which are labelled as having hazardous content and these should only be touched under supervision of the authorities or clean-up experts.”