Pharma cargoes wash ashore in South Africa from lost containers

Large numbers of medicinal bottles have washed ashore and been collected at multiple locations along South Africa’s Sunshine Coast. The pharmaceutical products are believed to come have from a container that was lost overboard from a vessel transiting the Cape of Good.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) said it was tracking which vessel the cargo washed ashore had come from as well as monitoring with local authorities if any further containers are washed ashore.

At least five different container vessels have lost over 200 containers in severe winter weather in recent months while transiting the waters around South Africa.

"SAMSA is aware of the container that washed ashore on the East Coast near Port St Johns last week. In addition, SAMSA has been informed of pharmaceutical bottles containing pills that have been washing ashore in the Port Alfred, Kenton, Cannon Rocks, and Boknes areas since Monday, 09 September 2024,” the authority said in a statement.

"In recent weeks, there have been several incidents involving the loss of containers at sea, including those involving the MV Benjamin Franklin, the MV CMA CGM Belem, MV. Maersk Stepnica, MV Rio Grande Express, MSC Antonia and the MV Ultra Galaxy who suffered a cargo shift, abandoned, and eventually ran aground off the West Coast.”

Related:CMA CGM ship loses 99 containers in storms off South Africa

The MSC Antonia lost 46 containers overboard on 28 August, while the CMA CGM Belem lost 99 containers on 16 August, and a month earlier the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin lost 44 containers overboard. 

"These incidents highlight the risks posed by severe weather and the challenges of responding to coastal shipping emergencies. SAMSA has been actively involved in response efforts to ensure minimal environmental impact,” SAMSA said.

"The loss of containers at sea poses potential risks to navigation and the environment, and efforts are underway to monitor and address any hazards that may arise. SAMSA is currently working to identify the vessel responsible for the pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore."

The authority said that vessel owners were fully cooperating with the authorities and committed to undertaking clean-up operations.

The waters off South Africa have been seeing far greater numbers of container ships due to diversions via the Cape of Good Hope on voyages between Asia – Europe and the US East Coast to avoid Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Winter storms have resulted in a growing number of container stack collapses and casualties on ships transiting the Cape.