The World Shipping Council (WSC) has released its annual Containers Lost at Sea report, showing that 576 containers were lost at sea in 2024.While this represents an increase from the record-low 221
The World Shipping Council (WSC) has released its annual Containers Lost at Sea report, showing that 576 containers were lost at sea in 2024.
While this represents an increase from the record-low 221 containers lost in 2023, it remains well below the 10-year average of 1,274 containers lost annually, underscoring continued industry progress on safety and prevention.
Container losses in 2024 were influenced by ongoing disruption in the Red Sea region, which led to a significant shift in global trade routes. Vessel transits around the Cape of Good Hope increased by 191% compared to 2023. This area is well-known for hazardous maritime conditions, which contributed to a concentration of losses. The South African Maritime Safety Authority says around 200 containers were lost in this region alone.
Despite these challenges, the proportion of containers lost relative to those transported remains exceptionally low - just 0.0002 percent of the approximately 250 million containers transported globally in 2024.
The report highlights continued efforts across the liner shipping industry to improve container handling, stowage and securing practices.
Several major safety initiatives are also featured:
• Mandatory reporting of container losses to the IMO will begin in 2026, following adoption of new SOLAS amendments. WSC
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