Crew Forced to Abandon MSC Matilde

The crew of the MSC Matilde containership “were disembarked from the vessel as a precaution” after it started listing heavily during the night at the Port of Liverpool, UK.

The container vessel was listing outside Gladstone Dock in Liverpool at about 02:00 BST yesterday (May 24). It started tilting in the River Mersey, at the UK port’s Liverpool2 container terminal.

"As a precaution, to ensure the safety of the captain and crew, they were disembarked from the vessel. There were no reports of injuries, loss of cargo or damage to ship and operations are back to normal," said a press release from Mediterranean Shipping Company MSC.

 The cause of the incident is still being analysed by the relevant authorities, it said.

The coastguard sent lifeboats, tugs and a pollution response vesse l out to the scene after being contacted by Peel Ports who operate the dock at Seaforth.

MSC will continue to provide full support and expertise to assist with any enquiries, the company said.