Incident at sea: the CMA CGM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN loses 44 containers off the South African coast

On Tuesday 9 July 2024, the CMA CGM container ship BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, which was continuing its voyage from Asia to Europe, encountered unexpected adverse weather conditions off the coast of South Africa, resulting in the loss of 44 containers at sea and damage to 30 others on board the vessel.

Fortunately, no crew members were injured and no pollution or major damage to the vessel was reported. The seaworthiness of the CMA CGM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN remains intact. A thorough inspection confirmed that all the containers lost at sea contained harmless goods and no dangerous products.

CMA CGM has promptly informed the relevant authorities and a full assessment of the situation will be carried out in Cape Town in order to take all relevant and necessary measures to ensure the safety and continuity of the voyage. Customers affected by the incident will be contacted individually by CMA CGM to provide them with all available information and support for the next steps.

This incident is a reminder of the importance of safety measures and constant vigilance in maritime transport, particularly in difficult weather conditions.