Lagos-bound Ship Loses Containers In South Africa

The South Africa Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has disclosed that a Chinese registered ship An Juang Jiang (IMO 8414960), lost deck cargo overboard in the vicinity of Jeffrey’s Bay.
 The vessel was en route from Durban, South Africa to Lagos, Nigeria before the accident occurred on July 15, 2012,.
“The ship’s captain advised the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of the event. Navigational warnings of the hazard were then broadcast,” SAMSA said in a statement.

The South Africa Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has disclosed that a Chinese registered ship An Juang Jiang (IMO 8414960), lost deck cargo overboard in the vicinity of Jeffrey’s Bay.
 The vessel was en route from Durban, South Africa to Lagos, Nigeria before the accident occurred on July 15, 2012,.
“The ship’s captain advised the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of the event. Navigational warnings of the hazard were then broadcast,” SAMSA said in a statement.
“It is understood that some 5 units, consisting of containers and cylinders, were lost overboard, 4 pieces of the cargo have been washed ashore and one piece is believed to be still floating in the vicinity.
“The floating part of the cargo is considered to be a danger to navigation, especially to small fishing and recreational vessels which operate in this area and the cargo on the beach is a danger to the general public.
“To date owners have failed to communicate with the Authority their intentions of how these dangers are to be mitigated, even though the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is in contact with the owners’ insurer’s representative in South Africa.
“Owners have been issued with a Directive, in terms of section 18 of the Wreck and Salvage Act, requiring them to immediately put in place a plan, which requires the approval of SAMSA, to remove all the cargo both ashore and afloat emanating from the vessel.
“In the event that owners fail to react to the Directive, SAMSA will initiate the steps to mitigate the dangers and recover costs from the vessel’s owners”, the statement warned.