The latest annual report released by the World Shipping Council (WSC) has revealed positive developments in container safety in the international liner shipping industry.
The report, covering the year 2022, shows that 661 containers were lost overboard during the year.
“The reduction in containers lost at sea in 2022 is positive news, but there is no time for complacency. Every container lost at sea will always be one too many, and we will continue with our efforts to make the sea a safer place to work and to protect the environment and cargo by reducing the number of containers lost at sea,” says John Butler, president and CEO of the WSC.
Proper packing, stowage and securing of containers, and reporting of correct weight are key to the safety of a container ship, its crew, and its cargo, to shore-based workers, and to the environment, says Butler. The responsibility for container safety is shared across the supply chain, and every day liner carriers work with their partners to prevent incidents and ensure safe container transport.
The 661 containers lost overboard last year represent less than one-thousandth of 1% (0.00048%) of the 250 million containers currently shipped each year, with cargo transported valued at more than $7 trillion. Reviewing the results of the total fifteen-year period surveyed (2008-2022), on average 1 566 containers were lost at sea each year.
In efforts to further enhance container safety, the liner industry partners with governments and other stakeholders to reduce this number.
To this end, the WSC, several member lines, and a range of maritime stakeholders started the MARIN Top Tier project in 2021. The research undertaken has already delivered concrete data on the causes of containers overboard and how to prevent further incidents. This includes training materials to raise awareness of the risk of various kinds of parametric rolling, as well as tools such as videos and calculators to help prevent and, if necessary, manage such dangerous situations.
TopTier research is currently taking place into container and lashing gear strength, stowage planning and optimisation, guidelines for vessel operations, and voyage planning. More results are to come in the form of industry best practices, updated safety standards, and recommendations as the project enters its third and final year. TopTier will continue reporting on progress and share insights on a regular basis on its website, through the IMO and in other forums.
The WSC has also for many years been advocating mandatory reporting of containers lost at sea, and has contributed in the IMO CCC 8 (sub committee on carriage of cargoes and containers), to the development of a system for mandatory reporting. The proposal will be considered by the Maritime Safety Committee in May-June this year. If approved, it could be approved next spring, making international mandatory reporting requirements for containers lost at sea effective from 2026.
Download the Containers Lost at Sea Report - 2023 Update
