Maritime alert issued after vessel loses containers 21 miles off Durban

Vessels sailing off the coast of Amanzimtoti have been warned to be on the lookout for cargo containers which reportedly fell off a trade cargo container ship, about 22 nautical miles (40km) a week ago.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) issued an alert after more than a dozen cargo containers were lost overboard from an MSC vessel on Tuesday, 7 August while it was en route between Port Elizabeth and Durban.

An investigation into the incident has been launched since the vessel berthed at the Port of Durban on Thursday, 9 August. SAMSA said 13 containers were reportedly lost overboard by the MSC Chloe at about 11.30pm, some 21.6 nautical miles ESE of Durban harbour in 550 metres of water depth.

“The vessel was on a voyage from Coega (Ngqurha port in Port Elizabeth) to Durban. Reportedly the vessel was drifting and awaiting berthing instructions when a huge swell struck and caused (it) to roll about 30 degrees on either side, thereby leading to the containers falling off their stacked position.

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A navigational warning is being broadcast by the Maritime Rescue Co-ordinating Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town and transiting vessels in and around the area are requested to keep a lookout and report any sighting to MRCC Cape Town or Durban Port Control,” said SAMSA in a statement.

“The containers lost overboard have been identified as 11 40-foot high cubes, one 40-foot open top and one 40-foot containing citrus fruit, and another 25 cargo transport units on board sustained damage.

The vessel’s owner MSC confirmed the contents of the containers as general cargo, ranging from cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, machinery shafts and agricultural supplies. No lost container contained any dangerous cargo or marine pollutants.” SAMSA said it verified that “declared dangerous goods containers containers as per (the) vessel’s stowage plan were on board in their respective positions”.