sHIPPING DESK
The massive container ship MSC Antonia remains stranded off the coast of Jeddah in the Red Sea. Despite 18 days passing since the incident, salvage efforts have yet to yield effective results. Experts warn that it may take much longer to free the vessel, and a declaration of ‘General Average’ could be imminent.
On May 10 local time, the 304-meter-long MSC Antonia, with a capacity of nearly 7,000 containers, ran aground near the ‘Eliza Shoals’ area close to Jeddah Port. Initially, it was assumed that navigation errors caused the vessel to stray off course. However, marine cybersecurity agencies later reported that it was likely a victim of GPS spoofing or signal jamming.
Analysts say that in recent times, GPS interference incidents in parts of the Red Sea have increased, posing serious risks to maritime navigation.
The tugboats assigned for salvage have so far failed to dislodge the vessel. The delay has caused substantial losses for many container owners. Amid these circumstances, the London-based insurance company ‘W. E. Cox Claims Group’ has issued a cautionary statement on their website regarding a possible General Average declaration.
General Average is a maritime commercial principle where losses from an accident are shared among all parties involved in the voyage. Under this principle, container owners may have to bear part of the loss before claiming compensation.
Experts say this incident has sparked renewed discussions on global maritime security, container transport, and insurance sectors especially given that the vessel belongs to MSC, one of the world’s largest operators.
An accident in such a vital waterway like the Red Sea could impact global trade significantly. Thousands of vessels transit this route daily between Europe and Asia. Therefore, MSC Antonia’s grounding is not merely a vessel-specific issue but a signal about broader maritime safety concerns.
