Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC Antonia has suffered severe weather in the Indian Ocean corridor, leading to the loss of 46 boxes and the damage of another 305 containers.
“The incident occurred approximately 29 nautical miles northeast of Port St. Johns while the vessel was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka to New York, US. In light of the container loss, a navigation warning has been issued to all vessels operating in the affected area,” said the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) in a statement.
MSC Antonia reportedly arrived at the port of Cape Town in South Africa on 30 August and will need to undergo a comprehensive assessment and necessary repair works.
The incident of the MSC boxship follows the loss of 99 containers from the Malta-flagged CMA CGM Belem in adverse weather while sailing off the coast of Richards Bay in South Africa on 16 August, while CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin lost 44 containers overboard off the coast of South Africa while sailing round the Cape of Good Hope.
All three vessels involved in the aforementioned incidents were on Asia-Europe voyages, using the route via the Cape of Good Hope due to Houthi security concerns which force the majority of cargo ships to avoid the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
