The World Shipping Council (WSC) reported that the number of containers lost at sea has been increasing over the past two years — triggering the industry to look into ways to better safeguard containers as they are transported.
WSC — the trade association representing the international liner shipping industry — said in 2021, international liner carriers' onshore staff and crews managed 6,300 ships, successfully delivering vital supplies worth US$7 trillion to the people of the world, in approximately 241 million containers.
But according to the WSC Containers Lost at Sea Report covering 2020-2021, containers lost overboard represent less than one-thousandth of 1% (0.001%).
However, it noted that the past two years have seen a "worrying break in the downward trend for losses," with the average number of containers lost at sea per year since the start of the survey increasing by 18% to 1,629.
"From a liner shipping industry perspective, every container overboard is one too many, and everyday carriers work with the other parties in the supply chain to enhance safety. But even with proper packing of the cargo into the container, correct container weight, and proper stowage and securing aboard the ship, several factors ranging from severe weather and rough seas to more catastrophic and rare events like ship groundings, structural failures, and collisions can result in containers being lost at sea," WSC said.
It added that the winter of 2020-21, for example, saw an "unusually high" number of weather-related incidents, and the average losses for the two-year period 2020-2021 were 3,113 compared to 779 in the previous period.
Taking action to improve safety
Triggered by these events, WSC said maritime actors across the supply chain have initiated the "MARIN Top Tier project" to enhance container safety, with WSC and member lines among the founding partners.
This project will run over three years and will use scientific analyses, studies, and desktop as well as real-life measurements and data collection to develop and publish specific, actionable recommendations to reduce the risk of containers lost overboard.
WSC said initial results from the study show that parametric rolling in following seas is especially hazardous for container vessels, a phenomenon that is not well known and can develop unexpectedly with severe consequences.
It noted that to help in preventing further incidents a "Notice to Mariners" has been developed, describing how container vessel crew and operational staff can plan, recognize and act to prevent parametric rolling in following seas.
"Container vessels are designed to transport containers safely and carriers operate with tight safety procedures, but when we see numbers going the wrong way, we need to make every effort to find out why and further increase safety," said John Butler, President & CEO of WSC.
"The liner shipping industry's goal remains to keep the loss of containers as close to zero as possible. We will continue to explore and implement measures to make that happen and welcome continued cooperation from governments and other stakeholders to accomplish this goal," Butler added.
In addition to the MARIN TopTier project, WSC and member companies have actively contributed to and supported the revision of the IMO's guidelines for the inspection programs for cargo transport units.
WSC said it also supports the creation of a mandatory reporting framework for all containers lost at sea – an issue that will be on IMO’s agenda in September (CCC 8).
