Nearly all boxes – over 250 million containers – are transported safely across the sea, the latest report, from the World Shipping Council, has revealed
That’s an astounding feat.
Out of 250 million boxes transported in 2024, a mere 0.0002304% were lost at sea. That’s just 576 boxes out of a volume greater than 250 million.
The majority of the boxes were lost on the passage around the southern tip of Africa, an area notorious for its rough weather. Around 200 boxes were lost in this area alone. These numbers were increased by three separate accidents that led to 44, 46 and 99 container losses respectively. A major driver of container losses in this region of the world is the fact that numerous ships have stopped using the Red Sea route owing to the threat of Houthi attacks and instead transit around the Cape of Good Hope.
And 2024 losses are “significantly better” than the ten year average of 1,274 boxes lost each year.
“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,” said Joe Kramek, President & CEO of the World Shipping Council.
Mandatory loss reporting
New IMO regulations will require all container losses to be reported as of 01 January 2026 under amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention.
“The new IMO regulations, specifically amending SOLAS Chapter V Regulations 31 and 32, mark a significant advancement in maritime safety and environmental protection. By ensuring prompt and detailed reporting of lost and drifting containers, these amendments will enhance navigational safety, facilitate swift response actions, and mitigate potential environmental hazards,” the World Shipping Council reported. The WSC has been a long-time advocate for mandatory reporting of containers lost at sea.
Meanwhile, the industry is awaiting the publication of a major study into the reasons for container losses that has been launched and led by the Maritime Research Institute of the Netherlands (MARIN). The “TopTier” initiative brings together over 40 stakeholders including flag states, shipping companies, classification societies, and equipment manufacturers. The results should be released at the IMO “Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers”, which will be held in London, UK, from the 8th to the 12th of September.
Shipping Australia comment
Captain Melwyn Noronha, CEO of Shipping Australia, commented: “the World Shipping Council has done a great job with this report. Showing that such a tiny number of containers are lost out of the 250 million containers that are transported each year really puts the issue in perspective. And, of course, we agree with Joe Kramek that even one container lost is one too many. To minimise the issue even further, it might be time to consider another viewpoint. We offer the suggestion that the weight distribution of cargo within a container may need to be investigated further. Speaking as a former sea-captain and as a former transport safety investigator, it is well-known that unbalanced weight distribution within a shipping container can be a contributory factor to container losses”.
