Southern Sirens
CMA CGM boxship loses 44 containers in extreme weather off South Africa
CMA CGM boxship loses 44 containers in extreme weather off South Africa
Bojan LepicJuly 11, 2024
French liner CMA CGM has stated that one of its containerships lost 44 containers at sea due to adverse weather conditions off the coast of South Africa.
The 2005-built, 17,859 teu CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin faced severe weather on Tuesday, July 9, during a westbound voyage from Asia to Europe and suffered and loss of 44 containers at sea while another 30 were damaged on the vessel.
Fortunately, there were no injuries to the crew, pollution, or damage to the vessel which remains fully seaworthy. After inspection, it was assessed that all containers lost at sea contained harmless goods and did not contain any dangerous cargo.
The company notified the relevant authorities and proceeded to Cape Town for a throughout assessment of the situation and took all relevant and necessary measures to ensure a safe prosecution of the sea voyage.
From the beginning of the week, Cape Town has been hit by bad weather. Nearly 1,000 homes in informal settlements in the city have been destroyed by gale-force winds, displacing around 4,000 people.
According to South African weather authorities, this kind of weather will persist until at least Friday. The entire week so far has been filled with strong winds accompanied by torrential rain, flooding, and mudslides.
The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin has not been the only victim of the strong winds that have plagued both the offshore and onshore parts of South Africa.
The Ultrabulk-managed 13,800 dwt Ultra Galaxy listed near South Africa on Monday but the 18-strong crew was rescued after evacuating in a life raft.
Earlier today, Splash reported that the vessel ran aground off the coast of Brand se Baai on the West Coast, 385km north of Cape Town. Efforts to prevent a fuel and oil spill are currently underway.
Read more here.
Grounded vessel breaks apart off South Africa
Sam ChambersJuly 29, 2024
The Panama-flagged general cargo vessel, Ultra Galaxy, beached on its side in a remote area of South Africa’s west coast since early July, broke apart into four sections over the weekend in stormy conditions with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reporting an oil spill.
Some 125 people from local communities have been enlisted to help in the clean up.
The wreck was battered by swells of up to 6.8 m striking every 15 seconds, and the massive force of this constant battering caused the accommodation block to first break off, which then led to a number of larger cracks on the hull, forward of the accommodation.
The 13,800 dwt Ultra Galaxy was built in 2008. According to available data from Equasis, it is owned by Fujita Shoji and managed by Denmark-based dry bulk operator Ultrabulk. At the time of its distress call on July 8, it was en route to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Read more here.
Ultrabulk vessel aground off South Africa
Bojan LepicJuly 11, 2024
The Ultrabulk-managed general cargo ship Ultra Galaxy, which was abandoned by its crew of 18 seafarers on Monday after a heavy listing, has run aground with efforts to prevent a fuel and oil spill currently underway.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) said on Wednesday that attempts are being made to salvage the vessel’s fertiliser cargo as well. The confirmation of the grounding off the coast of Brand se Baai on the West Coast, 385km north of Cape Town, occurred on Tuesday around 10 pm local time.
Preliminary indications are that the vessel has a full load of fertilizer in bags onboard as well as low-sulphur bunkering fuel and hydraulic and related oils.
Salvage operations are currently underway. On Monday, one tug was dispatched and arrived at the location on Tuesday. Another tug with more personnel and extra equipment departed from Cape Town on Tuesday evening to assist in the salvage efforts. Other measures are also being undertaken for the containment of any possible spills of the vessel’s cargo contents.
“We are closely working with SAMSA and the appointed salvors, focusing all efforts on the vessel’s recovery. There are no initial reports of pollution and as a precautionary measure oil spill response equipment and assets have been mobilised although operations are currently hampered by the adverse weather conditions,” a spokesperson of Transworld Fleet Management, the ISM manager of the Ultra Galaxy, told Splash.
Transworld also revealed that the two tugs were standing by near the vessel awaiting a suitable break in the weather to resume operations.
The vessel was located some 60 nautical miles west of Doring Bay when it sent its initial distress call at 3 am local time on Monday. Three ships closest to the casualty vessel – the Fivos, the Rio Grande Express, and the fishing vessel Malachite diverted from their routes to assist.
The entire 18-strong Filipino crew escaped from the listed vessel in a life raft and were rescued by the Malachite and taken to St Helena Bay.
The Panama-registered 13,800 dwt Ultra Galaxy is a 124 m long general cargo vessel built in 2008. According to available data from Equasis, it is owned by Fujita Shoji and managed by Denmark-based dry bulk operator Ultrabulk. At the time of its distress call it was en route to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Read more here.