Westbridge-Explorer

The 'Westbridge Explorer', loaded with chromium, ran aground on Nov 1, 2025, at the entrance to the access channel to the Port of Quelimane, in the Martibune area, Inhassunge district. It had left the Port of Quelimane where it had loaded unspecified quantities of chromium ore. The cargo was to be transferred to another ship in the Indian Ocean for further transport to its destination. A team from the maritime administration in Zambezia visited the site to assess the situation. The vessel was reportedly overloaded, and the engines could not cope with the currents in the canal, so that it was dragged and ran aground. The vessel has been polluting the water after the cargo of chrome ore started spilling. The vessel remained hard aground and partially submerged for the time being. A multisectoral brigade waa mobilised to respond. The authorities said they would take action in response to the damage the ship was causing to the marine ecosystem. The pollution caused by chromium and hydrocarbons was visible in the water. Maritime officials were assessing the risks of fish mortality and working to identify urgent solutions.The vessel was uninsured and there were no controls in place at the time of loading, as the weight was excessive, and the vessel could not withstand it. The operator Indo-Africa is known for its agricultural exports. Report with photo: https://mznews.co.mz/en/navio-com-peso-excessivo-encalhado-no-porto-de-quelimane-ha-um-mes/