All the news coverage in Las Palmas focused on the arrival of a damaged ONE vessel at the port of the Gran Canaria capital. But no one knew the problem was in the south of the island, an area with heavy traffic from private yacht tourism, the fishing industry, and cargo. On December 10, 2025, the container ship 'ONE Continuity' lost approximately 50 containers overboard while sailing in waters near the southern coast of Gran Canaria, off the coast of Maspalomas.
According to authorities, the incident was caused by a rogue wave that violently struck the vessel. The force of the impact not only resulted in the loss of cargo but also the partial collapse of a funnel at the stern of the ship. Fortunately, it was reported that all the lost containers were empty and no injuries were reported among the crew.
The incident triggered an immediate navigational warning for maritime traffic in the southern part of the island chain, due to the risk posed by floating or semi-submerged containers to other vessels. Following the loss of its cargo, the 'ONE Continuity' diverted from its route to the Port of La Luz and Las Palmas, seeking a safe harbor to assess the damage and begin repairs. The vessel docked on Wednesday morning with the damaged container sections facing the quay. This strategic maneuver facilitated access for cranes and reduced the risk of more containers falling into the water during the securing operation.
The cleanup and repair operations of the collapsed funnel began last week with the support of local authorities. As of Sunday night, the ship remained moored in port. The incident highlights the vulnerability of shipping lanes to the extreme conditions of the Atlantic, even near the coast of the Canary Islands, a crucial transit point for international trade.
