Stranded containership impedes traffic at Italy’s Gioia Tauro port

Authorities in Italy are responding to an incident wherein a container vessel became stranded near the entrance of the Port of Gioia Tauro on the country’s Tyrrhenian coast on Monday, January 9.

The Panamanian-flagged, 8,566TEU MSC Elaine struck the end of a breakwater as it was about to exit the port to sail for Malta at around 07:10 local time on Monday.

Divers who inspected the hull sighted no damage or pollution during an initial survey. However, officials said the 339-metre-long ship has been blocking much of the traffic going in and out of the harbour.

Tugs have been working to attempt to dislodge the vessel, which was still stranded as of 15:45 on Monday.

An investigation has been launched to determine how the incident occurred despite the prevailing benign weather conditions in the area at the time.