Classification
- Incident Type: Grounded
- Severity: Low
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | MSC Altair |
| Vessel Type | Container |
| Flag State | |
| IMO Number | |
| Gross Tonnage | |
| LOA (m) | 366 |
| Capacity | 13,100 TEU |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2021-11-24 |
| Location | Fairview Container Terminal, Port of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada |
| Coordinates | 54.3127, -130.3255 |
| Region | Canada |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage |
Key facts
- Strong winds caused MSC Altair to break free from its moorings at Fairview Container Terminal on 24 November 2021.
- The 366-metre containership briefly grounded on the eastern side of Digby Island, across from the terminal.
- Multiple tugs refloated the vessel.
- MSC Altair proceeded under its own power with a tug escort and a BC Coast Pilot to the outer harbor, then to anchorage for assessment.
- The Prince Rupert Port Authority reported no injuries, no significant damage, and no indications of marine pollution.
Narrative
On 24 November 2021, the 366-metre containership MSC Altair was moored at Fairview Container Terminal in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The gCaptain account reported that strong winds caused the vessel to break free from its moorings and run aground on the eastern side of Digby Island, across from the terminal. The article described the vessel as having capacity for 13,100 TEU.
Multiple tugs refloated MSC Altair. It then proceeded under its own power with a tug escort and a BC Coast Pilot aboard to the outer harbor. After the winds subsided, the vessel was moved to anchorage for assessment. The Prince Rupert Port Authority stated that no injuries were reported, initial reports indicated no significant vessel damage, and no indications of marine pollution were apparent.
The article does not identify the precise mooring failure mechanism, provide a damage valuation, or identify a formal investigation report. The reports of no significant damage and no pollution are preliminary port-authority statements.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2021-11-24 | Strong winds caused MSC Altair to break free from its moorings and ground near Fairview Container Terminal. |
| 2021-11-24 | Multiple tugs refloated the vessel. |
| 2021-11-24 | MSC Altair moved under its own power with escort to the outer harbor and then to anchorage for assessment. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Strong winds | Reported | The port-authority account carried by gCaptain attributed the breakaway to strong winds. |
Investigation
The available article reports a Prince Rupert Port Authority response update and subsequent assessment at anchorage. It does not identify a formal investigation body or provide official findings.