MSC Shipmanagement Limited has been fined $6 million and placed on probation for four years following the 2024 "runaway ship" incident involving the containership MSC Michigan VII in Charleston, South Carolina. The incident necessitated the evacuation of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge due to fears of a collision, reminiscent of a previous disaster where another containership struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The chief engineer of the vessel, Fernando San Diego San Juan, also faced consequences. He was fined $2,000 after admitting guilt for failing to report a hazardous situation and obstructing a federal investigation. The U.S. Department of Justice announced these penalties two years after the MSC Michigan VII lost control while departing the harbor, speeding up to 16-17 knots due to a disconnected linkage rod that affected the main engine’s response.
Investigators found that the crew had been improperly adjusting the engine governor, a job that should have been left to qualified technicians. This unsafe practice ultimately resulted in the June 5 incident that endangered both the vessel and surrounding infrastructure. San Juan’s misleading statements during interviews compounded the situation, which led to his later admission of guilt in 2025.
MSC will conduct a root-cause analysis as part of its punishment, and local law enforcement was praised for averting a potentially catastrophic scenario. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding large containerships and their navigational safety, especially after the recent bridge disaster in Baltimore.
