A United Nations Day of Significance, World Maritime Day 2022 is calling on the maritime community to have a conversation about the transition of the sector to a greener and more sustainable future.
This World Maritime Day, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is highlighting the importance of safe and effective container stowage planning to prevent container loss at sea and ocean pollution.
Safe carriage of containers and prevention of cargo loss
“The ATSB is an advocate for the safe carriage of containers and for the prevention of their loss at sea through operator compliance of their ship’s Cargo Securing Manual,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
“In addition to posing a navigational hazard, lost shipping containers are a significant environmental hazard in the marine environment.”
A single empty container lost at sea can release iron oxide as it rusts, as well as synthetic polymers and heavy metals from the breakdown of its insulation foam and protective paints.
The ATSB conducts ‘no blame’ safety investigations into selected maritime incidents and accidents in Australian waters, carried out in conformity with international treaties and instruments to improve maritime safety for all seafarers.
Read the ATSB investigation report: MO-2018-008 Loss of containers overboard involving YM Efficiency, 16 NM east-south-east of Newcastle, New South Wales, on 1 June 2018.
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Source: ATSB
