Discover the Manoa: Ratings & Maritime News

Mariners are being cautioned by the Coast Guard as recovery and monitoring efforts continue for containers lost from the cargo ship 'Manoa', situated in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, just west of the Golden Gate Bridge. As of December 15, Parker Diving Service has successfully retrieved all large pieces of container debris and foam insulation from one of the containers that made landfall at Baker Beach. Meanwhile, Matson has taken proactive measures by deploying response teams at both Baker Beach and Pacifica to collect plastic trays and other associated debris while conducting its own aerial and maritime surveys in the vicinity. The Coast Guard Auxiliary has been asked for additional aerial assistance. Matson crews have managed to recover two containers—one each at Baker Beach and Pacifica Pier. Aside from the single container that fragmented on Baker Beach, another black container was reported drifting south of the Golden Gate Bridge on December 15. A third container was noted to be partially submerged about one nautical mile from the Pacifica Pier, but salvage efforts have yet to pinpoint its location. To aid in these efforts, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is utilizing trajectory modeling to predict where the remaining lost containers may drift, based on current weather patterns. Should predictions indicate potential landfalls on the sanctuary’s shoreline, Beach Watch volunteers will be ready to assess any impacts. NOAA has additional personnel on standby in case any containers wash ashore and threaten local resources. Although the containers themselves did not carry hazardous materials, the debris—composed of styrofoam and plastics—remains a danger to marine and coastal wildlife due to risks of ingestion and entanglement. The Coast Guard is collaborating with NOAA, the State of California, the National Park Service, and the City of San Francisco to ensure the containers are safely removed from the marine ecosystem. Investigations into the cause of the incident are currently underway. To report any sightings of the containers, please contact the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center at 415-399-7300.

On the morning of December 15, a Coast Guard plane identified two more containers adrift in the waters off California, remnants of the cargo lost from the vessel "Manoa." The aircraft detected one container partially submerged just south of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, while another was spotted approximately one mile south of the Pacifica Pier, near the coastline. Matson Navigation Co. has been notified about these findings. It's still uncertain whether the container near Pacifica is the same one previously reported near Mori Point on December 14, as Matson's spotters were unable to find it at that time, leading to speculation that it may have either sunk or drifted further away. Cleanup crews have made significant progress at Baker Beach and in Pacifica, though they remain vigilant as debris may continue to wash ashore for an extended period. Notably, Styrofoam insulation and plastic crates have already been found on the beach adjacent to the Sharp Park Golf Course and on Manor Beach, prompting ongoing monitoring efforts by the company.

A shipping container, which was originally filled with bread, has made its way to Baker Beach, prompting a significant cleanup operation. The refrigerated container first arrived on China Beach before breaking apart and littering Baker Beach with debris. On December 13, responders discovered piles of mangled metal, along with stacks of green and blue pallets scattered across the shoreline. Cleanup crews swung into action on December 14, working diligently to clear hundreds of Matson boxes that lay strewn across the sand and water, in addition to numerous Styrofoam containers. The National Park Service announced that the beach would remain closed as they anticipated that the extensive cleanup efforts would continue throughout the day. The Oakland-based shipping company, Matson, has taken responsibility for the cleanup, employing Parker Diving Service to recover all 1,000 crates. However, they had to return on December 15 to address the remaining foam debris. This incident stems from a mishap aboard the container ship "Manoa," which lost a total of 12 containers on December 11 due to rough seas. While one container was accounted for, 11 others remain unlocated. The "Manoa" had docked in Oakland late on December 11 before continuing its journey to Seattle. For further updates and visuals related to the incident, explore these links: - [SFGate Coverage](http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Truck-size-shipping-container-washes-up-on-S-F-6696871.php#photo-9109757) - [NBC Bay Area Update](http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Shipping-Container-Washes-Ashore-on-Baker-Beach-11-Still-Unaccounted-For-361782151.html) - [ABC7 News Report](http://abc7news.com/news/sfs-baker-beach-closed-after-shipping-containers-spilled/1121725/)