Ships taking the alternative, non-Houthi route between Asia and Europe face another perilous situation, namely the rough seas around South Africa.
The 6,966 teu MSC Antonia lost 46 boxes overboard last week during severe weather conditions with another 305 containers damaged, according the increasingly busy South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). In response, a navigational warning to sailing vessels has been issued and a public call made to report any sighting of the cargo containers possibly still floating at sea. The ship has now berthed at Cape Town where it will undergo repairs.
The MSC Antonio incident followed shortly after the CMA CGM Belem also docked for a safe berth at the post of Ngqurha a few days earlier, having reportedly lost close to a 100 containers overboard due to bad weather, in an area adjacent Richards Bay while the 18,000 teu CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin lost 40 containers in July off South Africa’s east coast.