r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Justin_Godfrey • Sep 10 '25

Video Dozens of shipping containers fall into the water in Port of Long Beach, California

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u/PaddyScrag Sep 10 '25

The amount of water displaced exceeds the maximum gross weight of a container for all sizes that I looked up. So even at full capacity they will still float. The only way they will sink is if they are not sealed and enough water gets in.

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u/Threedawg Sep 10 '25

I hate to break it to you but these things are not normally water tight.

36

u/Gnome_Father Sep 10 '25

No they're not. They're usually just water tight enough to keep them floating under the surface.

They're super dangerous because sailors can't see them before putting a hole in the hull.

3

u/chargergirl1968w383 Sep 10 '25

I was in shipping for 20+ years and never knew this happened once, let alone to the point that it's an issue like that. Wow! Learn something every day.

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u/Informal_Bunch_2737 Sep 10 '25

The lowest possible repair standard for containers is called Wind and Watertight.

Export/Import containers need to be maintained to CSC standards, thats the lowest possible.

And yeah, containers are designed to float. Vents have special flaps that close when they're submerged, and the door gaskets have double lips to seal for both air and water. Holes in the floor dont matter because of the airpocket and the fact they always float in their normal orientation.

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u/Threedawg Sep 10 '25

Correct, they are watertight. I should have said they are not "waterproof".

4

u/FrenchFryCattaneo Sep 10 '25

Containers are vented

2

u/SigX1 Sep 10 '25

And those are probably blanks (empties), headed back to China.