Challenges facing containerships navigating the Cape of Good Hope

Navigating the Cape of Good Hope has always been perilous, even more so for today’s advanced vessels. Recent container-loss incidents, such as the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin losing 44 containers in July and the CMA CGM Belem losing 99 containers this month, have raised concerns about the ability of large containerships to withstand harsh ocean conditions.

The risks were highlighted by the capsizing and breakup of the bulk carrier Ultra Galaxy during a late-winter storm off Cape Town. Mike Yarwood, Managing Director of Loss Prevention at TT Club, is investigating the environmental conditions around the Cape, with support from colleagues in Durban. He noted uncertainty about whether the most dangerous period has passed or if conditions will worsen in the coming months.

One significant hazard around the Cape is ‘parametric rolling,’ which occurs when the wavelength of the ocean matches the vessel’s rolling motion, amplifying the roll and causing container stacks to buckle or fall overboard. Although shipping lines try to mitigate this by placing heavier containers at the bottom, studies have revealed a 20% discrepancy between stowage plans and actual stowage.

In response to rough seas, vessels have often rerouted via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. However, due to recent Houthi attacks compromising those waters, shipping lines are increasingly forced to navigate the Cape of Good Hope instead.

Climate change further complicates matters, with a study by the Environmental Defence Fund predicting that shipping’s climate-related annual costs could rise from $3 billion today to $7.5 billion by 2050.