Express & Star

Container ship evacuated in Liverpool after sharp tilt

The 294m-long vessel was at risk of capsize and took several hours to right.

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The ship tipping in the water

A container ship in Liverpool had to be evacuated after it tipped dramatically to one side, leaving it at risk of capsize.

A crew of 23 people were safely rescued from the 294m (965ft) MSC Matilde after it began to list to starboard at around 2am on Friday morning on the River Mersey.

After being evacuated onto dry land some of the ship’s crew got back onto the ship to try and assess its condition and correct the issue by transferring ballast.

The boat tipping in the Liverpool harbour
(RNLI/Daniel Whiteley)

Hoylake RNLI lifeboat attended the incident at the Liverpool2 Container Terminal and said it took several hours until the ship was upright again, at around 8am.

“Thanks to the efforts of the container ship’s crew, they were able to prevent the incident from becoming much more serious and ultimately save their vessel,” said Andy Dodd, a Hoylake RNLI coxswain.

“Liverpool and the River Mersey are increasingly busy with commercial traffic and this incident shows some of the significant risks that come with operations in a major port.”

The lifeboats on their way to the ship
(RNLI/Daniel Whiteley)

HM Coastguard Crosby also attended the scene and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency added that no pollution has been reported as being caused from the incident.

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