Seventeen empty shipping containers fell into the sea from the Maldives-flagged cargo vessel MV MSS GRAPHENE within the outer harbour limits of Colombo early today (1).
According to the Colombo Information Fusion Centre (IFC), the incident is believed to have occurred due to rough sea conditions. The vessel had departed Malé, Maldives, on 28 July and was en route to the Port of Colombo when the containers fell overboard.
The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has issued an emergency alert, warning that the containers were lost approximately 17 nautical miles west of the Port of Colombo.
Authorities said prevailing ocean currents could cause the drifting containers to move towards the coastline, particularly along the coastal stretch between Beruwala and Negombo, posing a potential hazard to navigation and fishing activities.
The Sri Lanka Navy has deployed vessels to the area to monitor the situation and maintain continuous surveillance of the affected sea region.
Meanwhile, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo has issued a navigational warning to vessels operating in the vicinity. Fishermen and mariners who spot any of the drifting containers have been urged to immediately inform the Radio Communication Centre of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources or report the sighting to the nearest fisheries harbour.
