Container ship accident: five containers fell into the jade!

Container ship accident: five containers fell into the jade!

On August 13, 2025, port operations at the Wilhelmshaven container terminal will remain restricted after an industrial accident reached shocking proportions last Saturday. During the incidents, five empty containers fell into the Jade, although four have already been recovered. The final recovery of a container is expected to take place today, local news reports.

The accident occurred on August 9 at around 5 p.m. when a 210-meter-long Liberian-flagged container ship was being unloaded. A technical defect when loosening pivot pins ensured that two containers remained partially connected to each other and tilted when lifted. This resulted in more containers being knocked over. Fortunately, no one was injured in this incident and the container ship itself was undamaged.

Salvage operations under high pressure

The recovery work was exhausting because not all of the containers could be picked up immediately. Two containers were recovered on Saturday, another box followed on Monday and two more on Tuesday evening. A crane helped the divers successfully locate and retrieve the containers. All containers are currently empty and there is no evidence of environmental damage or water contamination.

The rescue work even attracted onlookers who gathered in Papenburg to witness the operation. According to news magazine reports, shipping on the Jade was not affected by the incident, which is positive news for navigation in the region.

Temporary restrictions on port operations

In order to minimize possible dangers during the salvage work, port operations were temporarily suspended. Such measures are crucial to guarantee the safety of employees, especially in the context of the challenges that exist when handling freight containers. Experts continually emphasize the importance of taking proper safety precautions to avoid accidents. As the German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) notes, improper stowage or inadequate security measures can always pose a risk.

Current events highlight the need for all employees to receive regular training so that they are familiar with the appropriate safety measures. Operating instructions based on a comprehensive risk assessment are essential.

There are no further undocking maneuvers scheduled for the port of Wilhelmshaven until the end of 2026, which should provide additional time to resolve the current problems. The port has played a significant role in the regional economy in the past and will certainly continue to be popular in the future.

In light of these incidents, all parties involved must exercise a good hand in maintaining safety standards while continuing to promote the region's economic interests.

For further information on current events, readers can consult the reports from NDR and Nordische Post: NDR and Nordic Post. The DGUV also offers valuable information on safety measures when dealing with freight containers: DGUV.