CMA CGM Container Ship Loses 44 Containers in Rough Seas off South Africa

In a statement on Tuesday, CMA CGM reported that their container ship, the Benjamin Franklin, lost 44 containers overboard due to severe weather conditions off the coast of South Africa. Another 30 containers were damaged during the incident. The ship was traveling from Asia to Europe when it encountered unexpected rough seas near the Cape of Good Hope, disrupting shipping traffic with waves over 10 meters high.

Despite the loss of containers, the company confirmed that there were no injuries to the crew, no pollution, and no significant damage to the ship, which remains fully operational. All the lost containers were found to contain harmless goods with no dangerous cargo. CMA CGM has notified the relevant authorities and plans to assess the situation further in Cape Town. They also stated that they would provide support and information to affected customers.

The Benjamin Franklin has a capacity of 17,859 TEU and is part of CMA CGM’s French Asia Line 1, which was diverted around the Cape of Good Hope due to security concerns in the Red Sea. The company reassured that they would take necessary measures to ensure the safety of future voyages and support affected customers with any needed assistance.

Source .