A vessel belonging to the national shipping line, Maldives State Shipping (MSS), has lost 17 empty containers at sea near the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

According to reports from Sri Lankan news outlets, the incident involving the “MSS Graphene” occurred as the vessel was approaching the Colombo harbour from the Maldives. The containers reportedly fell overboard after the ship encountered severe weather conditions, causing it to tilt dangerously.

In response to the incident, the Sri Lankan Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) has issued a safety advisory for all vessels navigating the area, warning of the potential hazards posed by the drifting containers. While the containers are believed to be empty, they represent a significant navigation risk.

As of now, Maldives State Shipping has not issued an official statement regarding the accident or the status of the vessel. Authorities continue to monitor the situation to ensure maritime safety in the busy shipping lane.