An investigation is under way into the loss of several containers which fell from the MSC Palak off the coast of Port Elizabeth during stormy weather last week.
The vessel is a four-year-old Portuguese-flagged container vessel with a TEU capacity of approximately 9411 containers.
It sailed out of the Port of Ngqura at noon on July 13 and was anchored shortly after to ride out the stormy weather.
“At 23:37 on July 14 a report was received from Port Control that the MSC Palak had lost containers overboard while at anchor. An initial assessment was that six containers had fallen over board and that they had sunk. However, at first light on the 15th, the vessel confirmed that in fact 23 containers were lost overboard.” Samsa said.
The port of Ngqura was closed for vessel traffic due to the risk that some containers may have sunk in the approach channel, becoming a danger to navigation.
Samsa said that it was working with the vessel owner to ensure that all containers were salvaged.
