Working Conditions Aboard the Maria-Francisca

The cargo vessel 'María Francisca' departed from the Transversal Wharf in Vigo on February 4, heading towards Antwerp. Before resuming its journey, the ship anchored near the Cíes Islands, positioned at 42° 12' N 008° 52' W. Previously, the vessel had encountered rough seas off the Portuguese coast, resulting in a partial shift of its cargo, which posed significant logistical challenges for the crew. After its return to the Transversal Wharf, a security perimeter was established, accompanied by pollution barriers for safety. The efforts to reposition and remove the damaged containers commenced on January 19, adhering to a strict technical protocol that necessitated daylight and favorable weather. The operation was carefully orchestrated by Kaleido Logistics, the stevedoring company Estibadora Gallega, and the vessel's owners. Despite the relentless assault of storms including Harry, Ingrid, Joseph, Kristin, and Leonardo, the operation concluded successfully, enabling the 'María Francisca' to resume its voyage. For additional details and visual documentation, you can access reports here: https://www.atlantico.net/vigo/maria-francisca-vuelve-navegar-corrimiento_1_20260204-4149030.html, https://www.diariodelpuerto.com/maritimo/el-maria-francisca-sale-de-vigo-tras-superar-el-corrimiento-de-carga-JE25569088, and https://cadenaser.com/galicia/2026/02/04/culmina-con-exito-en-el-puerto-de-vigo-la-compleja-operativa-del-buque-maria-francisca-radio-vigo/

The cargo vessel 'Maria Francisca' is currently docked in Vigo as authorities initiate inspections following a significant midship cargo shift. This incident has temporarily sidelined the vessel from its crucial route connecting West Africa to ports in Iberia. The 'Maria Francisca', which was transporting a load primarily consisting of granite, cocoa, and palm oil bound for Vigo and Leixões, experienced a serious incident where two midship deck stacks collapsed. This led to several containers being crushed or torn open, with others precariously dangling over the port side. Alarmingly, a considerable number of containers fell overboard, presumed to have sunk offshore. Despite the immediate lack of reported environmental damage, this event raises increasing concerns within the industry about container losses at sea, especially given the rise in volatile winter weather patterns. The Port Authority of Vigo has designated the ship to remain at the transversal pier while teams work to secure, re-lash, and safely discharge the damaged and at-risk cargo under a meticulous safety protocol. This operation involves collaboration between stevedores, pilots, maritime authorities, and technical specialists. Meanwhile, insurers and technical surveyors are examining the vessel’s lashing equipment, deck fittings, and overall stability. The procedure entails a thorough survey of the collapsed stacks, followed by the stabilization of any at-risk containers, and then the use of shore cranes to discharge the damaged cargo. The Spanish Maritime Authority has indicated that the vessel's clearance to resume operations will hinge on the findings of these inspections and must also receive the backing of classification and insurance entities, a process expected to last several days.

On January 20, the Vigo Port Authority commenced a detailed and intricate operation aimed at reinstating equilibrium on the cargo ship 'María Francisca'. This vessel encountered a cargo shift during its voyage between Vigo and Leixões while navigating through a severe storm south of Aveiro and is presently docked at the transverse pier of the Port of Vigo. The operation, which was painstakingly organized through several coordination meetings involving the Port Authority, Kaleido Logistics, Estibadora Gallega, and the ship's owners, is being executed during daylight hours and under optimal weather conditions to ensure maximum safety. The main goal is to realign and secure the shifted cargo to mitigate risks to personnel and the marine ecosystem. Carrying a delicate load of palm oil, cocoa, and granite, the operation began with special precautions in place. A safety perimeter was established, complemented by environmental protection measures that include a waterproof tarpaulin laid between the ship and the dock to prevent debris from entering the sea, alongside the installation of anti-pollution barriers. Steel pontoons were strategically used to safeguard the dock flooring throughout the procedure. The operation commenced with the unloading of containers from the top, adhering to a technical sequence aimed at maintaining stability. Utilizing the ship's onboard crane, capable of lifting up to 100 tons, along with a 52-ton mobile crane and specialized platforms for elevated work, the team ensured that stevedores remained outside the potential fall radius of any cargo. Technicians indicated that the operation could take several days, contingent on the progress of cargo stabilization and prevailing weather conditions. For more detailed reports featuring photo and video updates, check out the following links: https://www.vigoalminuto.com/2026/01/20/el-puerto-de-vigo-coordina-una-cirugia-de-precision-en-el-carguero-maria-francisca/ and https://www.farodevigo.es/videos/gran-vigo/2026/01/20/inician-operativa-recolocar-retirar-estabilizar-125887805.html.

On January 14, 2026, the container vessel 'María Francisca,' while navigating through turbulent waters off the coast of Aveiro, experienced a significant shift in its cargo load, which primarily consisted of boxes filled with granite, cocoa, and palm oil. The severity of the sea conditions led to a pronounced list to the port side, resulting in the unfortunate loss of multiple containers that sank into the depths off the Galician coast. Fortunately, the lost cargo did not include any hazardous materials. In response, the crew swiftly implemented emergency protocols, which encompassed reducing the vessel's speed and conducting a detailed stability assessment. The Portuguese maritime authorities were promptly notified to monitor the situation closely, ensuring the safety of the vessel, its crew, and the surrounding marine environment. The 'María Francisca' successfully reached the port of Vigo at 9:30 p.m., accompanied by tugboats 'Helechosa' (IMO: 9976264) and 'Talavera' (IMO: 9984663) from the Vigo Port Pilotage Service. Additionally, the Pesca I helicopter and the 'Valentín Paz Andrade' (MMSI: 224021540) from the Galician Regional Government's Coast Guard played crucial roles in maintaining safety during the vessel's arrival. The Port Authority expertly orchestrated the berthing of the ship at the Transversal Wharf, implementing a security perimeter around the dock area. To mitigate environmental risk, anti-pollution barriers were deployed around the vessel. Key personnel from Segem (Galician Maritime Service), mooring teams, Maritime Authority, Maritime Rescue, and the Vigo Port Authority (APV) all participated in the operation. Images showed several stacks of containers toppled, with boxes crushed, torn, and dangerously positioned over the port side. Immediate efforts commenced for repositioning and removing the damaged cargo, which required careful planning and execution. Following the incident, a series of technical inspections were undertaken by the Maritime Authority, specialists, and insurance assessors to secure the site and evaluate the cargo's stability. It was anticipated that unloading operations for the affected containers would commence in the coming days, pending thorough assessments ensuring safe handling conditions at the Vigo docks. Notably, this is not the first instance the Port of Vigo has been utilized as a refuge for vessels encountering similar issues. On March 21, 2025, the container ship 'MSC Houston V' (IMO: 9463281), traveling from Piraeus to Liverpool, docked in Vigo after suffering cargo loss and shifts caused by heavy swells off the southern coast of Portugal. Furthermore, on January 26, 2025, the 'HC Eva Marie' (IMO: 9369071) also sought shelter in Vigo due to cargo shifting, with the sensitive nature of its payload calling for a specialized surveillance operation at the port. For further updates and visual content, readers can check the comprehensive reports and multimedia linked here: [Report with photos and videos](https://www.farodevigo.es/gran-vigo/2026/01/15/puerto-vigo-recoloca-carga-buque-perdio-contenedores-maria-francisca-125732679.html), [AP Vigo News](https://www.apvigo.es/en/paginas/noticias/app1/noticias/ver/827/el-puerto-de-vigo-vuelve-a-demostrar-su-capacidad-operativa-y-seguridad-ante-un-nuevo-desafio-logistico), [Galicia Press Coverage](https://www.galiciapress.es/texto-diario/amp/5735438/llega-puerto-vigo-otro-portacontenedores-sufrio-corrimiento-carga-aunque-no-hay-riesgo-ambiental), [News from La Region](https://www.laregion.es/galicia/atraca-puerto-vigo-portacontenedores-corrimiento-carga_1_20260115-4124813.html), [Diario de Vigo Report](https://diariodevigo.com/el-portacontenedores-maria-francisca-atraca-en-vigo-tras-sufrir-danos-en-su-carga-por-el-temporal/), [YouTube Coverage](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7xtlu8buhU), [Coast Guard Status Update](https://x.com/GardacostasGal/status/2011814389209255937).

The cargo vessel 'Maria Francisca' encountered a serious incident as it journeyed 140 miles north of Lanzarote, leading to a request for medical evacuation at the CCS Las Palmas. A crew member suffered significant injuries after falling approximately 10 meters on board the ship. In response to this emergency, Salvamento Marítimo swiftly dispatched the SAR helicopter Helimer 202 to the scene. The injured sailor was successfully hoisted from the vessel and airlifted to Gando. Upon arrival, he was greeted by an ambulance that promptly transported him to a local hospital for further medical attention. Meanwhile, the 'Maria Francisca' resumed its voyage, continuing its route from Lisbon to Sao Tome.