Tag: CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin

Malta-flagged cargo vessel loses 99 containers at sea off South Africa east coast: SAMSA

The Malta-flagged CMA CGM Belem cargo vessel at shelter in Algoa Bay, near Gqeberha, Eastern Cape province, South Africa on Sunday 18 Augusts 2024; after losing numerous containers at sea in the Indian Ocean on Thursday evening. (Photo. SAMSA)

Pretoria: 17 August 2024

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.

In a statement at the weekend SAMSA confirmed that: “The CMA CGM BELEM, a container ship sailing under the Maltese flag, encountered severe weather off the coast of Richards Bay last night (Thursday), resulting in a significant stow collapse and a loss of 99 containers.

“The vessel had initially sought refuge at Maputo Bay. However, after further assessment, the decision was made to redirect the ship to Qheberha. The CMA CGM BELEM is currently slow steaming towards Port of Ngqura, with an expected time of arrival on 18 August 2024,” said SAMSA

According to SAMSA, the vessel, built in 2024, measures 336 meters in length, 51 meters in height, and has a draft of 14.8 meters.

Notably, the CMA CGM BELEM is the second vessel of its kind and from the same France based company – Compagnie Maritime d’Affrètement (CMA) and Compagnie Générale Maritime – 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 40 containers in about the same region of the South African Indian Ocean area, while also sailing past the country from Asia to Europe.

Due to its size, it also had to take cover at the deep water port of Ngqurha in Algoa Bay near Gqeberha, Eastern Cape both for shelter as well as an adjustment of its cargo load for the rest of the journey to Europe. A few days later, having been cleared by SAMSA to sail, it departed South Africa, while a search for its lost containers remained alive.

In Pretoria on Saturday, SAMSA said the CMA CGM Belem was also a sizeable vessel best likely to be temporarily, safely berthed at the Eastern Cape’s newest deep water port in Algoa Bay.

“Given her draft,” said SAMSA: ” Port of Ngqura has been identified as the only suitable port of refuge. Stowage collapses have been confirmed, and the affected containers will need to be discharged at a container port facility upon arrival.

Meanwhile, said SAMSA, the owners of the vessel were “cooperating with the Authorities  and that a navigational warning has been promulgated for the safety of navigation of other vessels in the vicinity.”

SAMSA added: “Vessels traversing the ocean area, and the public, are requested to report any sightings of the lost containers to the relevant authorities by contacting the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) on telephone number 021 938 3300 with the position, number, and colour of the containers observed.”

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Malta-flagged ultra large container vessel sails off Algoa Bay as hunt for lost containers continues on South Africa’s east coast: SAMSA

Maltese flagged new generation ultra large container vessel, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin departed from South Africa on Tuesday night after a weekend of cargo hold examination and strenghtening following to a week of adverse weather at sea and during which dozens of containers were lost overboard in the Indian Ocean. (Photo: SAMSA)

Pretoria: 18 July 2024

Efforts to locate more than three dozen goods containers that fell off at sea from one of the world’s biggest cargo containerships in the world currently, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, while sailing on the Indian Ocean alongside South Africa a week ago, continue in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape; according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)

That is, even as the new generation ultra large Maltese flagged container vessel has departed from Algoa Bay where it had sought shelter from adverse weather, and to have her cargo hold strengthened for the rest of her journey to western Europe, confirmed SAMSA on Thurssday.

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin had anchored in Algoa Bay on Friday last week, after a harrowing bad weather experience on the Indian Ocean along South Africa, and during which she reported a loss of forty-four (44) containers overboard.

According to SAMSA, the incident occurred in the Indian Ocean earlier in the morning of 09 July 2024 and during which she reported a collapsed container stack. The vessel then diverted to Algoa Bay, where she anchored in sheltered waters to undergo a comprehensive damage assessment inclusive of the remaining cargo still onboard.

A ship navigation warning had since been issued by the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) based at SAMSA’s Centre for Sea Watch & Response in Cape Town, and remains in place.

On Thursday morning, in a statement, SAMSA said: “The ultra-large container vessel, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin has left Algoa Bay. She sailed on the evening of Tuesday, 16 July 2024. She had been anchored in sheltered waters in Algoa Bay since last week, undergoing a comprehensive assessment while her cargo was being secured. The vessel had reported a collapsed container stack and the loss of 44 containers at sea.

“The vessel was cleared to sail, after the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) assessed a cargo securing plan that was received from the Owners, to secure the damaged cargo stacks. After the cargo stacks were secured in Algoa Bay, the Owners identified a suitable weather window to conduct the passage around the Cape of Good Hope.

“To ensure that any settling of cargo during the sea passage is dealt with, the Owner has opted to keep a Cargo Securing Specialist and a team of Rope Access Technicians (RATs) on board for the voyage northward.

“By Wednesday, 17 July 2024, at noon, the vessel was reported making good speed towards Cape Agulhas and on Thursday morning she was passing St Helena Bay.

“The next phase of the operation is to understand the fate of the containers that are on the seabed. It is highly probable that these containers are located on the seabed outside of South African waters in depths of more than 500 meters. SAMSA and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) will be working closely with the owner and their insurers to chart a way forward regarding the containers on the seabed.

“A navigation warning to all vessels operating in the area remains active, advising them to navigate with caution. Vessels and the public are urged to report any sightings of the lost containers to the relevant authorities by contacting the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) on telephone number 021 938 3300 with the position, number, and colour of the containers if observed,” said SAMSA

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