According to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), adverse weather conditions last week impacted South Africa, leading to the loss of up to 99 containers from the large container ship CMA CGM BELEM off the country's eastern coast.

Authorities have issued a navigation warning to vessels in the vicinity and are urging the public to report any sightings of containers that may still be adrift.

In a statement released over the weekend, SAMSA confirmed: "The Malta-flagged container ship CMA CGM BELEM encountered severe weather near Richards Bay on Thursday, resulting in a significant stack collapse and the loss of approximately 99 containers overboard."

SAMSA stated that the vessel initially sought refuge in Maputo Bay. However, after further assessment, it was decided to reroute the ship to Qheberha. Following the incident, CMA CGM BELEM slowly made its way to the Port of Ngqura.

Notably, the CMA CGM BELEM is the second vessel in recent times to experience adverse weather while navigating the Indian Ocean region off South Africa. Just a month ago, another Malta-flagged ultra-large container ship (CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin) lost up to 40 containers in the same area while en route from Asia to Europe.

Due to its large size, the vessel had to seek shelter in the deepwater port of Ngqura near Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape Province to adjust its cargo load before continuing to Europe. SAMSA stated, "Considering its draft, the Port of Ngqura was identified as the only suitable refuge. It has been confirmed that a stack collapse occurred on the CMA CGM BELEM, and the affected containers will need to be offloaded upon arrival at the port."

A few days later, the vessel was cleared by the South African Maritime Authority to depart from South Africa, with a search for the missing containers still ongoing. Meanwhile, SAMSA indicated that the ship's owners "are cooperating with the authorities and have issued navigation warnings to ensure the safety of nearby vessels." SAMSA added, "Ships traversing the area and the public are urged to report any sightings of the lost containers to the relevant authorities, providing details on their location, quantity, and color."

[Vessel Information]

The CMA CGM BELEM, built in 2024, is a liquefied natural gas-powered container ship. It measures 336 meters in length, 51 meters in height, has a draft of 14.8 meters, and a capacity of 13,200 TEU. The vessel is flagged in Malta. On June 28, the CMA CGM BELEM, with a capacity of 13,000 TEU, was christened during a ceremony at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai. The CMA CGM BELEM is the fifth in a series of six 13,000 TEU vessels, with the sixth ship scheduled for delivery in August this year.