Adverse weather conditions impacting South Africa this past week have led to yet another large container vessel losing as many as 99 containers off the east coast of South Africa, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
In response, a navigational warning to sailing vessels has been issued and a public call made to report any sighting of the cargo containers possibly still floating at sea.
According to data on the CMA CGM website, the CMA CGM Belem was only delivered to the company in June 2024 and has a capacity of over 13,000 TEU. It sails under the Maltese flag and measures 336 metres in length, 51 metres in height, and has a draught of 14.8 metres.
On Thursday, 15 August, the vessel encountered severe weather off the coast of Richards Bay, resulting in a significant stow collapse and a loss of 99 containers. SAMSA states that the owners of the vessel are ‘cooperating with the Authorities’.
Also read: WSC: Fewer containers lost at sea in 2022
Second container loss for CMA CGM in a month
Notably, the CMA CGM Belem is the second vessel of its kind and from the same French shipping company to be battered by adverse weather conditions while sailing around South Africa’s Indian Ocean area, and resulting in substantial loss of containers overboard at sea.
A month ago, the ultra large container vessel CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, also Maltese flagged, reportedly lost up to forty containers in about the same region of the South African Indian Ocean area, while also sailing past the country from Asia to Europe.
After having taken shelter and readjusting its cargo at the deep water port of Ngqurha in Algoa Bay near Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, it departed South Africa a few days later, while a search for its lost containers remained alive.
Photo: CMA CGM container ship for illustrative purposes (Pixabay).
Also read: New system alerts crew when ship is at risk of losing containers
