Container Ship Loses 46 Containers Overboard Due To Bad Weather Conditions Off South Africa

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has announced that a search operation is underway for cargo containers that went overboard from vessels along South Africa’s Indian Ocean corridor over the past month.

Two vessels, the MV CMA CGM Belem and the MSC Antonio, were recently affected by severe weather, which resulted in cargo losses and damage.

On August 28, 2024, the MSC Antonio, a Liberian-flagged container ship, encountered severe wintry weather about 29 nautical miles northeast of Port St. Johns, South Africa.

The incident occurred while the vessel was en route from Colombo to New York. It resulted in the loss of 46 containers overboard and damage to 305 others.

The MSC Antonio is now safely moored in Cape Town, where it will undergo a thorough inspection and necessary repairs. Fortunately, no crew injuries were reported.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority issued a navigational warning and urged the public to report any sightings of the lost containers.

SAMSA and insurance surveyors conducted an aerial survey and spotted 19 containers in the Eastern Cape Region. However, it is still being determined if they are from MSC Antonio or the CMA CGM Belem.

The CMA CGM Belem, a Maltese-flagged container ship, experienced a similar fate on August 15, 2024, losing over 99 containers off the coast of Richards Bay due to severe weather.

The ship initially sought refuge at Maputo Bay before being redirected to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

An aerial search later located floating containers off the Wild Coast, but no direct link to the CMA CGM Belem was found.

In another related incident, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin reported losing 44 containers in early July.

Industry experts have warned that vessels diverting from the Red Sea routes may encounter severe weather around the Cape of Good Hope, a region prone to such issues.

SAMSA continues to prioritize the safety of its crew, vessels, and the environment. It urges the public to avoid handling debris and to alert local authorities or the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) if they spot any containers.

Reference: SAMSA

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