Introduction to numbers of shipping containers that get lost at sea each year
How many shipping containers go missing at sea each year?
The World Shipping Council reported that, in 2018, there were 1,382 such incidents.
And between 2020 and 2021, more than 3,000 containers will go missing in the North Pacific alone – that’s double the annual average!
So what’s going on? Read on to find out. The World Shipping Council has many other facts about shipping containers that go missing at sea.
Every hour
Each year, tens of thousands of shipping containers are lost at sea. Many of these containers are composed of household chemicals that are toxic to marine life.
These containers may remain a floating hazard for weeks or even months before they are found. The causes of lost shipping containers are not clear, but the lack of knowledge about how to salvage them may contribute to a larger problem. To prevent future incidents, shipping companies should improve safety measures.
World Shipping Council data shows that every hour, at least one container is lost at sea. This statistic is based on surveys of WSC members, which represent about 80% of the container capacity of ships.
The WSC assumed that for purposes of analysis, only 20 percent of the industry experienced container losses. However, the losses are hardly the end of the world.
A recent example is the sinking of a vessel named MOL Comfort, which resulted in the loss of over 1,800 shipping containers in the Indian Ocean.
The ocean garbage created by these shipping containers is another major source of pollution. These escaped containers contain anti-corrosive paints and other hazardous chemicals that are harmful to the new ecosystem.
In addition to pollution, these containers also contribute to the development of artificial flotsam and jetsam. This means that the new ecosystem will have a lower oxygen level than the ocean itself.
The problem with sunken shipping containers is that these containers are not reported to authorities. This lack of accountability has raised concerns around the world. The European Parliament has also raised the issue.
According to the World Shipping Council, five hundred and fifty-eight shipping containers are lost each year at sea. These losses do not just affect shipping companies, but also consumers and the environment.
The World Shipping Council estimates that this number has increased to 1,582 in 2017.
Every day
There are countless reasons why a shipping container could be lost at sea. These reasons may vary based on the nature of the shipment, but they often involve rough seas or storms.
Other reasons may include incorrectly packed containers, damaged or missing parts, or faulty connections between containers. In some instances, the lack of proper maintenance practices could also be to blame.
However, there are some things you can do to minimize your chances of losing a shipping container. Many shipping companies in Michigan, North and South Carolina, and Virginia ensures the safety of the containers when shipping them to other places.
There are several factors that can cause a shipping container to become lost at sea, including extreme weather, improper stowage, and improper supervision.
In November 2020, the Pacific Ocean was experiencing its heaviest weather since 1948. The increased cargo traffic from China to the United States coincided with the strongest winds in the northern Pacific since 1948.
In addition to bad weather, stronger winds can lead to rougher seas and larger waves, which can result in shipping container losses.
While the total number of lost containers is relatively small, the consequences of these incidents can be devastating for local coastal communities and marine life.
While improved safety measures should prevent many incidents, the costs associated with the legacy of broken shipping containers are significant.
And, because they are made of glass and metal, salvage efforts may be complicated and costly. And the process of retrieving these containers can be incredibly complicated due to differing jurisdictions.
Losing a shipping container is a huge hassle for the ship owner. This can cost you thousands of dollars and a ruined relationship with your customers.
And, what’s worse, losing a shipping container can affect your business as well. So, don’t wait to ship anything out until you’re absolutely certain it’s safe. If it’s safe, you’re probably already protected by the right security measures.
According to the World Shipping Council (WSC), around 1,382 shipping containers go missing every year. That figure does not include catastrophic events, which makes it harder to assess how many containers were lost.
But the number of lost containers doubled in the past decade, according to WSC data. But if we ignore catastrophic events, it is possible that the number of lost containers could increase by as much as fourfold in the coming years.
Every year
How many shipping containers are lost at sea every year? A study conducted by the World Shipping Council estimates that up to 568 shipping containers go missing every year.
That number does not include the catastrophic events such as collisions and weather conditions that cause containers to go overboard. However, a recent survey suggests that this number is even higher.
The World Shipping Council has compiled data from two separate surveys that cover six years.
While there are many factors that contribute to container loss, most losses occur during rough seas and storms.
Other factors can contribute to container loss, including excessive stacking height, low freeboard, poorly packed cargo, improper stowage planning, and misdeclared container weight.
In addition, stack collapses can occur on ships when crews fail to properly secure them or are unaware of potentially dangerous weather conditions.
The World Shipping Council estimates that about 1,382 containers get lost at sea every single year. However, this number is likely to increase exponentially, as it will double in just a few years.
According to WSC data, this number is still a fraction of the total number of containers lost worldwide. Despite this, the numbers do seem high.
The World Shipping Council estimates that the number of lost containers will increase to 3,000 by 2021.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth have been tracking container losses at sea since 2013. Using the power of social media and other methods, they have tracked one sunken container that sank off the coast of Med Taipei in 2004.
The ship was heading to LA at the time, and 15 containers were lost. Twenty-one were recovered, but one ended up in the marine sanctuary.
The shipping company responsible for this container was sued for $3.25 million in compensation. This money will go to their ongoing research.
The World Shipping Council estimates that around 1,382 shipping containers are lost at sea every year. These accidents cause higher shipping costs, unsafe working conditions for ship crews, and environmental concerns.
The “ONE Apus” ship fiasco is a perfect example of what could happen if a container sinks. Among the thousands of containers that were lost, one container lost over three hundred meters in the North Pacific alone.
Every two years
The shipping industry is experiencing a record-breaking increase in lost shipping containers. Last year, more than 3,000 boxes went missing, while a further thousand have gone overboard this year.
And by the end of the decade, 3,000 containers will be lost in the North Pacific alone, doubling the annual average in just a few years. The World Shipping Council has released several reports on the issue.
Read on to learn about some of the latest.
Marine life benefits from this phenomenon. Each year, tens of thousands of containers get lost at sea. While they may look like mere blobs, the flotsam that spills from them can harm the health of the ocean and wildlife.
Flotsam from containers can crush aquatic habitats and introduce new features to the sea floor. These objects can even aid the spread of invasive species.
Additionally, shipping containers can also be filled with hazardous cargo. One case of this happened in 2018 when 6,000 pounds of sulfuric acid leaked into the ocean.
The World Shipping Council is currently investigating the causes of the losses and determining how to prevent future losses. While the findings from these studies are not yet final, it is safe to say that extreme weather events are the most common factor in lost containers.
Despite the occurrence of such incidents, the trend has been on the decline. The average loss for a three-year period was 1,390 containers. The downward trend continued in the 2017-2019 period, with only seventy percent of the containers lost.
The causes of container falloff are varied. A report by the WSC, International Chamber of Shipping, and Baltic and International Maritime Council examined possible causes of container falloff.
In addition to these factors, the report highlighted several reasons for this problem, including stormy weather, the ship’s design, and issues with the propulsion.
Another cause was faulty connections between containers. Another factor involved in falling cargo off a ship was the lack of maintenance.