World Shipping Council report reveals year-on-year decrease in container losses at sea

The World Shipping Council (WSC) recently released its annual report on containers lost at sea, showing a significant decrease to 221 containers lost in 2023. While this is the lowest number recorded since the survey began in 2008, the council emphasises the ongoing need for stringent safety measures.

Key findings

• Lower Losses: 221 containers were lost at sea in 2023 out of 250 million containers transported, a reduction from the previous lowest-ever loss of 661 containers in 2022.
• Recovery Efforts: About 33 per cent of the lost containers were recovered.

Despite these improvements, the WSC stresses that the industry cannot become complacent. The progress made in 2023 is encouraging, but it highlights the continuous need for dedication to safety protocols and preventive measures.

Ongoing and upcoming initiatives

• The Marin TopTier Joint Industry Project: TopTier has contributed concrete outcomes on the causes of containers overboard together with recommendations and training material on how to avoid and manage different kinds of dangerous parametric rolling. Later this year, the final report will be published with conclusions and recommendations arising from extensive scientific research and analyses, providing industry best practices, updated safety, container and lashing standards, guidance and recommendations for regulatory updates.
• Mandatory Reporting of containers lost at sea: New mandatory reporting requirements for containers lost at sea were recently adopted by the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 108), and will take effect on January 1, 2026. WSC has worked closely with member nations to develop these mandatory reporting requirements, being part of the initial submission by the European Union and taking an active part in the working group. By ensuring prompt and detailed reporting of lost and drifting containers, the amendments aim to enhance navigational safety, facilitate swift response actions, and mitigate potential environmental hazards.
• Regulatory Enhancements: Continuous efforts to revise and enhance safety guidelines, including the SOLAS Convention and the CTU Code.

Annual updates for improved data

The WSC said correct data play an important part in the work to enhance container safety. As a part of the council's advocacy for mandatory international reporting of containers overboard, it has been reporting on the number of Containers Lost at Sea since 2011, with data starting 2008.

Originally, the report was updated every three years. To provide more timely updates, the Containers Lost at Sea Report is carried out on an annual basis since 2023.