MSC ANTONIA

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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' 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, about 29 nautical miles northeast of Port St Johns, has reached Cape Town and taken up a berth at that port’s container terminal for a comprehensive assessment and necessary repairs. 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

46 containers lost, 305 damaged off St. Johns

The 'MSC Antonia', en route from Colombo to Cape Town, lost 46 containers overboard and incurred damage to 305 more when it ran into stormy weather off the coast of St. Johns on Aug 28, 2024. The vessel ran into bad weather about 29 nautical miles northeast of the port when the loss occurred, but was able to continue its voyage safely, with no reported injuries to the crew. The ship would be undergoing a thorough assessment after it arrived at the container terminal in Cape Town on Sep 2 at 5 p.m. UTC,, where the damaged cargo could be discharged if necessary and the remaining cargo was to be secured. The SAMSA has issued a navigation warning to all vessels operating in the area, advising them to navigate with caution. As a precautionary measure, all relevant stakeholders were notified to ensure a coordinated response. The SAMSA has urged vessels and the public to report any sightings of lost containers to the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre on 021 938 3300 with the position, number, and colour of the containers spotted.