Maersk-Stepnica

Work to identify a vessel responsible for pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore along the South African east coast from Gqeberha through to nearby north eastern towns on the Indian Ocean coastline, was actively being investigated by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). For identification, analysis and safe disposal of the pharmaceutical products SAMSA said it was working through an Incident Management Systems (IMS) committee involving among others, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, South African Police Service (SAPS), Eastern Cape Disaster Management and the South African Health Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). At South Africa’s Sunshine Coast medicinal products were collected enmasse over the past week, after several cargo vessels traversing this part of the Indian Ocean, lost collectively close on 200 containers within about eight weeks since July 2024 from the 'CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin', 'CMA CGM Belem', 'Maersk Stepnica', 'Rio Grande Express' and 'MSC Antonia'. Iin addition to tracking down the specific vessel on which the consignment of pharmaceutical produces might have fallen from, the SAMSA was also closely monitoring the coastline in collaboration with local authorities to track any further containers or goods that might wash ashore. The SAMSA was aware of the container that washed ashore on the East Coast near Port St Johns and has been informed of pharmaceutical bottles containing pills that have been washing ashore in the Port Alfred, Kenton, Cannon Rocks, and Boknes areas since Sep 9. Efforts were underway to monitor and address any hazards that may arise. SAMSA was currently working to identify the vessel responsible for the pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore. The owners of the vessels were fully cooperating with SAMSA and other relevant authorities and have committed to undertaking clean-up operations along the coastline should any contamination or further cargo loss occur. Report with photos: https://blog.samsa.org.za/2024/09/12/mop-up-underway-of-containers-and-pharmaceutical-bottles-found-on-the-south-african-eastern-coastline-samsa/

Early on Jan 10 the "Maersk Stepnica" left the Trinity Terminal in Felixstowe again bound for Zeebrugge with an ETA of 7 p.m. The ship with a crew of 22 on board had reported the loss of 33 containers loaded with non hazardous goods 120 miles off Penmarc'h in the Bay of Biscay on Jan 6 enroute from Port Said to Felixstowe in stormy weather. The ship did not report any further damage and continued to Felixstowe. An urgent notice to mariners was issued by the maritime prefecture of the Atlantic. Two surveillance flights to relocate the containers were made on Jan 7 by a Falcon 50 of the French Navy and a customs aircraft from Lann Bihoué during which a container still adrift which could pose a hazard to navigation was seen. On Jan 8 ,the container could be relocated and marked with a tag by a team of Navy embarked on a Cayman NH90 based in Lanvéoc Poulmic. The same evening the "Argonaute" sailed from Brest with a team of divers of the French Navy and reached the area on Jan 9 at 9:45 a.m. One hour later the container was hauled aboard and the tag marking recovered. The "Argonaut" returned to Brest around midnight. Reports with photos and video: http://felixstowedocker.blogspot.de/2014/01/storm-damaged-maersk-stepnica-in.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c1vbNScBf4 http://www.letelegramme.fr/ig/generales/regions/finistere/bretagne-conteneurs-a-la-derive-en-mer-operation-recuperation-09-01-2014-2362615.php http://bretagne.france3.fr/2014/01/09/la-marine-nationale-recupere-un-conteneur-la-derive-391591.html http://gcaptain.com/mv-maersk-stepnica-loses-containers/ http://www.vp.fo/pages/posts/maersk-stepnica-misti-konteynarar-i-illvedri-37752.php http://www.premar-atlantique.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/recuperation-conteneur-presentant-danger-pour-navigation.html

On Jan 7, 2014, at 7.20 p.m. the "Maersk Stepnica" docked at the Felixstowe Trinity Terminal at berth 6 with a storm damaged stack aft of the bridge. The ship lost 32-33 loaded boxes in the storm Hercules in the Bay of Biscay, dozens others toppled to starboard and were partially crushed. Maersk planned three days to rectify the situation as the "Maersk Stepnica" showed a departure date of Jan 10, 7 p.m., however, as there were still another 2700 moves to go it was suspected the vessel may be a little longer to tidy the mess up. All boxes aft of the bridge were done on Jan 8 so engineers could get in there and begin the salvage. The ship had sailed from Tanjun East on Dec 20, 2013. Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32755955@N05/11840351615/lightbox/ http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1953722