Cma-Cgm-Samson Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On January 13, 2023, emergency responders from the U.S. Coast Guard successfully carried out a medical evacuation of an injured crew member aboard the 'CMA CGM Samson' within the Houston Ship Channel, close to Galveston, Texas. At approximately 1 p.m., the Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston received an urgent call from the Houston Pilots reporting that a 34-year-old crew member had sustained a serious lower leg injury from a fall. In response, watchstanders consulted with the on-duty flight surgeon, who promptly advised that a medevac was necessary. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Houston was dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, the helicopter team hoisted the injured crew member and transported him to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Fortunately, the patient has been reported to be in stable condition following the incident.

In a significant logistical adjustment, vessels are now redirecting their journeys from Ningbo to Shanghai following the closure of the Ningbo Meishan Island International Container Terminal (MSICT) prompted by a Covid-19 outbreak on August 11, 2021. The terminal ceased all operations at 3 a.m. on August 12, limiting the entry of export containers to a two-day window based on vessels' estimated time of arrival (ETA). Notably, CMA CGM announced that cargo operations for its vessels, including 'CMA CGM Samson' on the PEX3 service and 'CMA CGM Rivoli' on FAL1, would be temporarily suspended until the terminal's reopening. Additionally, the 'CMA CGM Melisande', which operates on PEX3, is set to make a stop in Shanghai on August 18 or 19, before proceeding to Ningbo, with an expected arrival on August 20 or 21. The FAL3 service's vessel, Kerguelen, is following a similar altered schedule but will arrive two days earlier. Furthermore, the 'CMA CGM Centaurus' servicing the Columbus PNW, along with 'Cosco Venice' from the GMXP, and 'Kota Carum' on REX2, will entirely bypass Ningbo during this period. Hapag-Lloyd has also notified its customers about anticipated delays in upcoming sailings, while Cosco has confirmed that a selection of vessels will omit Ningbo from their itinerary this week.

On April 3, 2018, the container ship 'CMA CGM Samson' encountered a mishap as it ran aground on the South Breakwater while entering Cape Town's harbor after its journey from Port Réunion. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. during low tide, prompting an immediate response from the Transnet National Ports Authority, which deployed three tugboats to aid in the recovery efforts. Collaboration with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) was vital in addressing the situation. By 3 p.m., the tugs successfully refloated the 'CMA CGM Samson', allowing the vessel to proceed to berth 604 for a thorough inspection of any potential damages. With the salvage operation's success, normal shipping activities at both Duncan Dock and the Cape Town Container Terminal resumed by 7 p.m. At the time of the grounding, the 'CMA CGM Samson' was transporting approximately 1,000 containers and had originated from Singapore. The vessel, with a crew of about 23 members, was slated to continue its journey to Pointe Noire in the Congo following its stop in Cape Town. For further visual coverage and additional stories about the event, check out the following links: [IOL News](https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/look-efforts-underway-to-refloat-container-ship-stuck-in-ct-harbour-14222757) and [Infrastructure News](http://www.infrastructurene.ws/2018/04/04/container-vessel-successfully-salvaged-at-port-of-cape-town/).