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Navigating the High Seas: Lessons from Recent Container Losses off the South African Coast

Navigating the High Seas: Lessons from Recent Container Losses off the South African Coast

In recent weeks, the maritime industry has been rocked by a series of unfortunate incidents involving large containerships navigating the treacherous waters off the coast of South Africa. The most recent of these incidents involved CMA CGM's newly inaugurated containership, the CMA CGM Belem, which lost nearly 100 containers overboard during a severe storm on August 15, 2024.

This marks the second such incident involving CMA CGM vessels in just over a month, raising important questions about the safety and challenges of navigating the Cape of Good Hope.

A Stormy Encounter: The Incident Unfolds

CMA CGM's brand new containership has lost up to 99 boxes overboard in a storm off South Africa (Hudong-Zhonghua)

On August 15, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported that the CMA CGM Belem, a 13,000 TEU containership, had lost as many as 99 containers off the east coast of South Africa. The vessel was caught in a violent storm, which led to what SAMSA described as a “significant stowage collapse.”

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This type of incident, where cargo is dislodged or shifted within the vessel, poses serious risks not only to the ship’s stability but also to the environment and other vessels in the area.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the CMA CGM Belem sought refuge in Maputo Bay. However, after assessing the situation further, the decision was made to redirect the vessel to Qheberha (Port Elizabeth). The ship is now slow steaming towards the Port of Ngqura, where it is expected to arrive on August 18, 2024.

Given the vessel's massive size—145,650 deadweight tonnage (dwt), 1,102 feet in length, and a draft of 48.5 feet—SAMSA identified the Port of Ngqura as the only facility in the area capable of accommodating the ship.

As of late Sunday, the vessel had reached the Port Elizabeth anchorage, according to its AIS signal. While CMA CGM has not yet released an official statement, it is presumed that the company is conducting a thorough damage assessment to determine the full extent of the losses and any structural damage to the ship.

A Broader Issue: Recurring Challenges for Large Containerships

This incident is not isolated. On July 9, 2024, another of CMA CGM’s ultra-large container vessels, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, reportedly lost up to 40 containers in the same region. The vessel was transiting from Asia to Europe when it encountered a fierce storm in the South African Indian Ocean. After docking at Algoa Bay, the vessel was able to resume its journey on July 16, but the incident underscored the inherent risks of this route.

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South Africa has been hit by a series of severe late-winter storms this year, which have disrupted maritime operations significantly. Experts had previously warned that the Cape of Good Hope route, while often necessary for large vessels, presents additional challenges compared to the more sheltered Red Sea route.

These challenges include not only the risk of encountering severe weather but also the longer distances required for navigation.

The storms have not only affected container ships but also other types of vessels. For instance, the bulk carrier Ultra Galaxy was caught in the July storms, leading to a tragic outcome. Authorities believe that the ship's cargo of bagged fertiliser shifted during the storm, causing the vessel to list heavily.

The crew abandoned ship, but the vessel ultimately capsized and later washed ashore north of Cape Town, where it broke apart in subsequent storms.
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