Cargo Losses Surge Off South African Coast Amid Red Sea Rerouting

An MSC ship has lost dozens of containers overboard after encountering severe winter weather off the coast of South Africa, marking the third such incident in two months as more ships round the southern tip of Africa.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported that the MSC Antonia, a 6,900 TEU containership sailing under the Liberian flag, lost 46 containers and suffered damage to 305 others during an incident on August 28. The ship, en route from Colombo to New York, encountered harsh conditions approximately 29 nautical miles northeast of Port St. Johns, located on South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.

The incident follows two similar occurrences amid winter storms in recent months. The CMA CGM Belem lost 99 containers on August 15, near Richards Bay, while the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin lost up to 40 containers on July 9 in the same area.

The surge in cargo loss incidents coincides with an increase in ships rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

SAMSA has issued navigational warnings and urged public vigilance. “We request that any sightings of containers or debris along the South African coastline be reported immediately to local authorities or SAMSA,” the agency stated.

SAMSA reported that the MSC Antonia would undergo a comprehensive assessment and necessary repairs in Cape Town. The agency added, “Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the crew, and the ship was able to continue its voyage safely despite the incident.”

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