South Africa Launches Investigation To Track Vessel Behind Containers & Pharmaceutical Bottles Washing Ashore

The South African Maritime Security Authority (SAMSA) is working to identify the vessel responsible for pharmaceutical bottles washing up along South Africa’s eastern coastline from Gqeberhato northeastern towns.

The authorities are actively investigating the situation in collaboration with local authorities to find the source of the contamination.

According to SAMSA, an Incident Management Systems (IMS) committee comprised of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment, Eastern Cape Disaster Management, South African Health Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), and the South African Police Service (SAPS) is in charge of identifying, analyzing, and safely disposing of pharmaceutical products.

The reports came after multiple sightings of pharmaceutical items in huge quantities along South Africa’s Sunshine Coast last week. The incident comes after the reported loss of nearly 200 containers from several cargo ships transiting through the Indian Ocean region since July 2024.

According to reports, the vessels involved in these losses are MSC Antonia, MV Benjamin Franklin, MV CMA CGM Belem, MV Maersk Stepnica, and MV Rio Grande Express.

Pharmaceutical Bottles — Image Credits: SAMSA

According to a statement released in Pretoria on Thursday, SAMSA is working closely with local authorities to monitor the shoreline and trace any more containers or goods that might wash ashore.

They are also working to identify the specific vessel from which the pharmaceutical products may have fallen. Since September 9, 2024, pharmaceutical bottles containing tablets have been reported washing ashore in Port Alfred, Boknes, Cannon Rocks, and Kenton.

Several incidents involving container loss have been reported in recent weeks, including the MV Ultra Galaxy, which experienced a cargo shift, was abandoned, and eventually ran aground off the West Coast.

SAMSA has said that the vessel owners are fully cooperating with the relevant authorities and have agreed to conduct cleanup operations along the coastline if further contamination or cargo loss happens.

SAMSA has urged vessels at sea and the public to report any sightings of the lost containers to the authorities by contacting the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) and providing information such as the location, container number, and colour of the containers.

Reference: SAMSA

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