CMA CGM BELEM

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SAMSA trying to identify ship which lost pharmaceutical bottles

Work to identify a vessel responsible for pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore along the South African east coast from Gqeberha through to nearby north eastern towns on the Indian Ocean coastline, was actively being investigated by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). For identification, analysis and safe disposal of the pharmaceutical products SAMSA said it was working through an Incident Management Systems (IMS) committee involving among others, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, South African Police Service (SAPS), Eastern Cape Disaster Management and the South African Health Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). At South Africa’s Sunshine Coast medicinal products were collected enmasse over the past week, after several cargo vessels traversing this part of the Indian Ocean, lost collectively close on 200 containers within about eight weeks since July 2024 from the 'CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin', 'CMA CGM Belem', 'Maersk Stepnica', 'Rio Grande Express' and 'MSC Antonia'. Iin addition to tracking down the specific vessel on which the consignment of pharmaceutical produces might have fallen from, the SAMSA was also closely monitoring the coastline in collaboration with local authorities to track any further containers or goods that might wash ashore. The SAMSA was aware of the container that washed ashore on the East Coast near Port St Johns and has been informed of pharmaceutical bottles containing pills that have been washing ashore in the Port Alfred, Kenton, Cannon Rocks, and Boknes areas since Sep 9. Efforts were underway to monitor and address any hazards that may arise. SAMSA was currently working to identify the vessel responsible for the pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore. The owners of the vessels were fully cooperating with SAMSA and other relevant authorities and have committed to undertaking clean-up operations along the coastline should any contamination or further cargo loss occur. Report with photos: https://blog.samsa.org.za/2024/09/12/mop-up-underway-of-containers-and-pharmaceutical-bottles-found-on-the-south-african-eastern-coastline-samsa/

Search for lost containers going on

As of Sep 5, the 'CMA CGM Belem', which had lost 99 containerrs on Aug 16, remained anchored in pos. 33° 51' S 025° 45' E in the Algoa Bay port of Ngqura having her onboard cargo loads adjusted and repairs as necessary, while the 'MSC Antonia', (IMO 9398216), which had lost 46 containers and had another 305 boxes damaged on Aug 28, 29 nautical miles northeast of Port St Johns, has reached Cape Town and taken up a berth at that port’s container terminal to undergo similar treatment. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported that on Aug 29 the ship’s insurer representatives in South Africa launched a five hour aerial surveillance and search for the lost containers after several sightings of floating containers along the Wild Coast area of the Eastern Cape province were reported. 19 containers were spotted at sea in an area along the Transkei Wild Coast during the aerial search, but it could not be readily established which ship they belonged to. Efforts were ongoing to search for the lost containers. Report with photos: http://africaports.co.za/#8919

Load adjustments still underway, floating container sightings

The 'CMA CGM Belem', which had sought safe habour in the Port of Ngqurha following the container loss, has since been making load adjustments and remained stationary as of Sep 3. On Aug 30, the ship's insurer representatives in South Africa launched a five hour aerial surveillance and search for the vessel's lost containers after several sightings of floating containers along the Wild Coast area of the Eastern Cape province were reported to the authorities. The SAMSA said around 20 containers were spotted but it could not be confirmed that they belonged to the 'CMA CGM Belem'.