Classification
- Incident Type: Allision / Grounded
- Severity: Medium
- Primary evidence: Danaos' firsthand account and a published TNPA statement.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | CMA CGM Samson |
| Vessel Type | Container |
| Owner/Manager | Danaos |
| Service | CMA CGM ASAF |
Danaos identifies the vessel's management and service in its annual report. Danaos, p. 74
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2018-04-03 |
| Location | Cape Town harbour, South Africa |
| Region | Other |
| Coordinates | |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage |
Key facts
- The ship was under pilotage when it hit the breakwater and grounded. Danaos, p. 74
- TNPA reported assistance by the tugs Usiba, Nseleni and Pinotage. Infrastructure News
- The port authority's account places salvage between 17:00 and about 17:20 on its reported clock; traffic resumed at 19:00. Infrastructure News
- Classification Society surveys found minor damage to the bulbous bow. Danaos, p. 74
- Danaos reported no injuries, no pollution and no machinery failure, followed by onward departure. Danaos, p. 74
Narrative
CMA CGM Samson grounded while entering Cape Town harbour on 3 April 2018. Danaos' account states that the ship was under pilotage, struck the breakwater and ran aground. The published TNPA statement identifies the South Breakwater at the container-terminal entrance and reports that the bow was aground while the stern remained afloat. Shipping movements through the affected entrance were suspended. Danaos, p. 74, Infrastructure News
TNPA reported that three tugs assisted the salvage operation at high tide, beginning at 17:00 and finishing around 17:20 on its reported clock. Danaos described the vessel refloating under its own means as the tide rose. These accounts establish recovery but describe the assistance differently. The ship berthed at Berth 604 for assessment, and port movements resumed at 19:00. Infrastructure News, Danaos, p. 74
Underwater and onboard Classification Society surveys subsequently found only minor bulbous-bow damage. Danaos reported no injuries, pollution or machinery failure and said the ship departed for Pointe Noire after cargo operations. It also stated that a full investigation followed, without publishing its findings in that account. The rising tide explains the reported recovery conditions; it does not establish the cause of the initial grounding. Danaos, p. 74
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018-04-03 | Breakwater contact and grounding during arrival under pilotage. |
| 2018-04-03 17:00–17:20 (TNPA reported clock) | Salvage operation and refloating, according to TNPA's published statement. |
| 2018-04-03 | Vessel berthed at Berth 604 for assessment. |
| 2018-04-03 19:00 (TNPA reported clock) | Shipping movements resumed. |
| After surveys and cargo operations; date unspecified | Vessel departed for Pointe Noire with minor bow damage reported. |
The port account does not explicitly state its timezone.
Sequence: Infrastructure News and Danaos, p. 74.
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Low-tide harbour entry | Suspected | FleetMon presented low tide as a tentative explanation; no published investigation finding establishes a causal role. |
Factor: FleetMon.
Investigation
Danaos stated that a full investigation followed. Its annual report establishes survey results and rules out machinery failure in its account, but gives no final navigational findings. No completed SAMSA investigation report has been identified. Danaos, p. 74
References
- Danaos Shipping CSR Report 2018, p. 74
- Infrastructure News: TNPA salvage statement, 4 April 2018
- FleetMon: grounding and refloating update, 4 April 2018