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
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.” 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.