Containers lost at sea

The World Shipping Council (WSC) released an update to its survey and estimate of containers lost at sea.

The earlier WSC survey, released in 2011, covered the years 2008, 2009 and 2010.  The new survey includes data for years 2011, 2012 and 2013. 

For the combined six year period from 2008 to 2013, WSC estimates that there were 546 containers lost on average each year, not counting catastrophic events. Furthermore, there were 1,679 containers lost at sea each year including catastrophic events, such at the MOL Comfort disaster.

The report notes that 2011 and 2013 each saw rare catastrophic events that resulted in complete and total vessel losses.

“Every container loss is one the industry would like to avoid,” says Chris Koch, WSC President and CEO. “The updated report not only provides more accurate data on the issue, but also identifies those initiatives the industry is supporting to increase container safety and reduce such losses.”

Koch also notes that while no one can eliminate the challenges of bad weather or the risk of vessel casualties at sea, care and cooperation among all those who pack, handle, weigh, stow and secure containers is needed to improve safety.