Containers lost at sea remain low as safety improves

By Admin

01 Jul, 2025

The shipping industry continues to make strides in container safety, as confirmed by the latest Containers Lost at Sea report by the World Shipping Council (WSC). In 2024, a total of 576 containers were reported lost at sea an increase from 221 in 2023, yet still significantly below the 10-year average of 1,274. These figures reflect the global industry's ongoing commitment to safety and risk reduction, even in the face of rising geopolitical and environmental challenges.

Shipping Safety Progresses Despite Route Disruptions

The 2024 increase is largely attributed to disruptions in the Red Sea region, where maritime security threats forced many shipping lines to reroute their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope. This detour led to a 191% increase in transits around the Cape, an area known for hazardous sea conditions. The South African Maritime Safety Authority noted that approximately 200 containers were lost in this region alone.

Nevertheless, even with such challenges, the container loss rate remains remarkably low. Of the nearly 250 million containers transported globally in 2024, just 0.0002% were lost. As WSC President & CEO Joe Kramek stated, “This year’s report confirms that the vast majority of containers are transported safely across the oceans. Still, even one container lost is one too many.”

Industry-Wide Commitment to Safety

The report is based on data from WSC member companies, which collectively represent around 90% of the world’s container vessel capacity. It highlights several ongoing industry efforts to enhance safety, including improvements in container handling, securing, and stowage practices. Importantly, the report emphasizes that safety is a shared responsibility across the supply chain from shippers and freight forwarders to terminal operators and ocean carriers.

Key Safety Initiatives Shaping the Future

Among the major developments outlined in the report are:

• Mandatory Reporting to IMO: Starting in 2026, new SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) amendments will require the mandatory reporting of container losses to the International Maritime Organization a measure long championed by the WSC.
  
  

• Top Tier Joint Industry Project: Led by MARIN and involving WSC, this initiative has advanced industry understanding of the root causes of container losses and will present its final recommendations to the IMO in September.
  
  

• WSC Cargo Safety Program: Launching in 2025, this program will introduce the first industry-wide cargo screening system to detect misdeclared or undeclared dangerous goods one of the leading causes of onboard fires.
  
  

• Charcoal Shipment Regulations: New rules aimed at preventing charcoal-related incidents will take effect in 2026, though many carriers plan to implement them as early as 2025.
  
  

Conclusion

While container losses did rise slightly in 2024, the global shipping industry’s focus on continuous improvement and proactive risk management has kept overall loss figures at historically low levels. With new regulations, innovative safety programs, and enhanced industry collaboration on the horizon, the future of maritime cargo safety looks stronger than ever.