The M/V CMA CGM Dahlia shipping disaster is another example of how dangerous the ocean can be.
As we’ve said before, there is no guaranty of safe passage when bringing goods across the ocean. Weather and other dangers lie waiting everywhere. When bad weather hits a container ship there is a lot that can go wrong. Containers can be lost, blown open, or even crushed.
CMA CGM is no exception to this, as the 3rd largest container shipping line in the world they are still vulnerable to the perils of ocean transit. This can be seen in the story of the M/V CMA CGM Dahlia.
The Story of the M/V CMA CGM Dahlia
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- A crane starts the dangerous job of unloading the Dahlia
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- Shipping containers were crushed
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- Some of the debris fell out onto the port
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- Goods had fallen out of open shipping containers
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- Shipping container hangs open off the side of the Dahlia
In February of 2008, the M/V CMA CGM Dahlia was crossing the Pacific Ocean en route to Manzanillo, Mexico. While crossing the Pacific, the Dahlia encountered a nasty storm which damaged the cargo on board and left the workers on the ship in danger.
When the Dahlia made port in Mexico, it was apparent the storm had resulted in sustained damage to the cargo. Shipping containers hung off of the port and stern of the ship while some containers had been completely crushed. Other containers had been flung open in the storm, and their contents were now long lost at sea.
The process of unloading these damaged containers was a very dangerous endeavor. With unbalanced stacks of shipping containers, one false move and the whole stack could fall. Emergency services stood by watching workers unload the containers, ready for the worst-case scenario. During the unload, some containers even collapsed into the mooring station.
The Moral of the Story
The moral of the story is that there is no guaranty when shipping goods across the ocean. The ocean is a dangerous, unpredictable place, and anyone shipping goods across the ocean should ready for anything. Luckily there is one way to ensure that your goods are protected, Marine Cargo Insurance can cover any and all damages sustained while transporting goods across the ocean and help mitigate or cover any loss that might be incurred.
Story and images sourced from CargoLaw
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