- The World Shipping Council (WSC) has reported that an average of 1,382 containers are lost at sea each year, based on three-year averages calculated over 12 years.
- Despite efforts to reduce losses, estimates indicate a concerning trend, with 2,675 containers lost between November 2020 and January 2021 alone.
- While improvements have been made, safety remains a top priority, with climate change and human error cited as significant contributors to container loss.
According to the World Shipping Council (WSC), an average of 1,382 shipping containers are lost at sea annually. This figure is based on three-year averages calculated over a 12-year period, representing 80% of the global vessel container capacity up until 2019. However, recent estimates reveal a more alarming trend, with 2,675 containers lost between November 2020 and January 2021 alone. The year 2021 witnessed the largest rise in lost containers since 2013.
Recent Trends and Improvements
In 2022, approximately 661 containers were lost at sea out of 250 million transported containers, marking the lowest loss percentage since the WSC survey began in 2008. While this improvement is positive, efforts to reduce lost containers will continue. Safety remains paramount, as even a single lost container is deemed unacceptable.
Factors Contributing to Container Loss
Several factors contribute to the loss of shipping containers, including cost-saving shortcuts, improper declaration of container weight, inadequate packaging, and stowage planning. Moreover, climate change has emerged as a significant contributor, alongside human error. Changing weather patterns in the Pacific Ocean, particularly in high-traffic areas like the China-US route, have led to containers becoming dislodged from ships and lost at sea.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite efforts to address the issue, the reduction of lost sea containers remains a challenge. Factors such as ship groundings, structural failures during stacking, and climate-related incidents continue to pose risks to container integrity. It is crucial to note that while losses suffered by shipping entities result in resource depletion, they do not necessarily translate to economic loss. Nonetheless, ongoing efforts are essential to mitigate the environmental impact and ensure the safety and sustainability of maritime transportation.
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Source: Leadership
