Image for representation purposes only MSC Shipmanagement Limited has been fined $6 million after pleading guilty to failing to report a hazardous condition aboard the containership MSC Michigan VII and obstructing a federal investigation into a June 2024 incident in Charleston, South Carolina. The company was also given four years of probation and must carry out a root-cause analysis of the conditions that led to the incident. The MSC Michigan VII lost control of its engine speed while leaving Charleston Harbor on June 5, 2024. The 997-foot, 74,000-ton container ship was travelling at about 14-17 knots, forcing authorities to evacuate the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and clear nearby beaches. The ship was eventually guided safely under the bridge and out to sea. Its wake injured two people and damaged ships and piers in the harbor. The company’s chief engineer, Fernando San Diego San Juan, was separately fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to failing to report the hazardous condition and obstructing the investigation. He has 14 days to appeal and will return to the Philippines. What happened aboard the ship The MSC Michigan VII left North Charleston at about 11:45 a.m. on June 5. It was supposed to travel up the Cooper River to a turning basin, turn around and then head back down the river, pass under the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and leave Charleston Harbor. During the voyage out, a linkage rod connected to the ship’s engine governor came loose after the crew manually adjusted it. The governor controls the engine speed. Once the linkage rod disconnected, the main engine could not be slowed and the ship continued at around 16-17 knots. The bridge was evacuated because of concerns that the vessel could hit it. Beaches in the area were also cleared because of concerns over the ship’s wake. The vessel was safely taken under the bridge and out of the harbor. The wake later injured two people and damaged ships and piers. The crew eventually regained control of the engines.