Working Conditions Aboard the Empery

On March 18, 2021, a significant maritime incident occurred at Coatzacoalcos port when the MV Empery lost its moorings due to high winds exceeding 100 km/h and turbulent swells. At approximately noon, while the vessel was in the process of offloading 4,000 tons of ethane at pier 6, the cargo hose became detached, resulting in a minor gas leak into the air. Fortunately, the vessel’s automatic safety systems activated, halting the pumps to minimize the leak, which was limited to gas remaining in the hose. At the time of the incident, the ship had already discharged 1,530 tons of ethane that had been previously loaded in Houston, leaving 2,470 tons still onboard. In response to the situation, port authorities promptly evacuated all workers from the dock area as a precautionary measure. The MV Empery drifted down the river before tugs were able to regain control and return the ship safely to its berth. For additional details, you can view the full report with photos here: https://www.milenio.com/estados/desalojan-trabajadores-fuga-etano-puerto-coatzacoalcos.