70 stray cargo containers pose threat to mariners off North Carolina
PORTSMOUTH, Va.— The Coast Guard is warning mariners of navigation hazards after about 70 cargo containers fell off of a cargo ship Saturday night, about 17 miles off Oregon Inlet, North Carolina.
The cargo ship Maersk Shanghai contacted watchstanders at Sector North Carolina’s command center via VHF-FM marine radio channel 16, notifying them that they lost approximately 70 to 73 cargo containers due to high winds and heavy seas.
The Coast Guard urges all mariners to transit this area with caution.
-USCG-
A lot of times they float right at the surface, very hard to see. You don't want to hit one of those bad boys.
WOW!!!! So, are they close enough to get caught in the Labrador Current or will they be influenced by the Gulf Stream? Also, if I found one washed up say on Lea Island could I open it and take what I wanted? 
Free loot!Grab the floaters while you can!
Just curious. Is there a concerted effort to retrieve them at any point. Are they allowed to just eventually sink? If they wash up on the neck who cleans them up?
My father was delivering a 110 foot motor yacht in 1978 from Miami to Puerto Rico. They hit one at 3 am and sank the boat in 40 minuets. Fortunately had a Boston Whaler to drop in the water. He said it was the worst screeching metal to metal sound you ever heard. Happened on the Atlantic side of the Bahamas.
At 17 miles off of Oregon Inlet, not in the gulf stream for sure but in the Labradors probably headed down the beach especially with the high NW winds. I sure hope they sink but from what I have read they do not sink until they get a hole in them or the doors blow open.
I am very concerned and do not know what will be done to reduce the navigation hazards.
Sounds like good search and destroy practice for the Navy
I remember back in 2006 a container full of doritos fell of a ship and over around Frisco pier I think it was...the beach was covered in bags of doritos......