Sodium hydroxide leak: port of los angeles/long beach, california

Timeline · 2 messages, oldest first

1. 1
   NOAAORR-111312026-03-09 00:00Z → cancelled 2026-03-23 00:00Z
   Container ship loses 32 containers; south of aleutian islands, alaskaother

   Container Ship Loses 32 Containers; south of Aleutian Islands, Alaska.
   1. On March 9, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) notified the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) that the container ship OOCL Sunflower lost 32 shipping containers overboard on March 3, while transiting south of the Aleutian Island Chain enroute from Taiwan to the Port of Long Beach, California. The crew is unable to make a final assessment of the damages due to safety concerns, and intends to perform a full evaluation in port upon arrival to the Port of Long Beach on March 12. The crew has not observed any overboard discharge of material, nor damage below the waterline. The vessel is currently located 1,200 nautical miles west of Portland, Oregon, heading southeast. USCG Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach is preparing for the arrival of the vessel. The NOAA scientific support team is currently reviewing the cargo manifest.
   2. THREAT: OTHER.
   3. POSITION 33.761N 118.214W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 11131: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/11131

2. 2
   NOAAORR-111422026-04-03 00:00Z → cancelled 2026-04-17 00:00Z
   Sodium hydroxide leak: port of los angeles/long beach, californiachemical

   Sodium Hydroxide Leak: Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, California.
   920 W Harry Bridges Blvd, Wilmington, CA 90744.
   1. On April 3, 2026, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for California was contacted by U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach regarding a compromised container of sodium hydroxide. The Los Angeles Fire Department deployed on scene and established a 1000-foot safety zone around the container. Hazardous materials handlers were dispatched to assist in opening the container, assessing additional risks or hazards, and beginning off-loading the container. The container doors were opened without incident. The Incident Command demobilized April 3 and the remainder of the cleanup was managed by the facility.
   2. THREAT: CHEMICAL. COMMODITY: SODIUM HYDROXIDE.
   3. POSITION 33.770N 118.280W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 11142: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/11142