The World Shipping Council (WSC) has published its annual report on containers lost at sea, revealing that 576 containers were lost in 2024. This figure marks an increase from the record-low of 221 containers lost in 2023; however, it remains significantly below the 10-year average of 1,274 containers. This trend indicates ongoing improvements in industry safety and prevention measures. The rise in container losses during 2024 can be attributed to disruptions in the Red Sea region, which caused major shifts in global trade routes.
As a result, vessel transits around the Cape of Good Hope surged by 191% compared to the previous year. This area is notorious for its treacherous maritime conditions, which contributed to a cluster of container losses, with around 200 reported by the South African Maritime Safety Authority. Despite these challenges, the percentage of containers lost in relation to those transported is remarkably low, accounting for only 0.0002 percent of the approximately 250 million containers shipped worldwide in 2024. Joe Kramek, President & CEO of the World Shipping Council, noted that while the vast majority of containers are transported safely, even a single loss remains a concern.
The report also underscores ongoing safety initiatives within the liner shipping sector, emphasizing the collaborative responsibility shared among shippers, freight forwarders, terminal operators, and ocean carriers. Several emerging safety initiatives include mandatory reporting of container losses to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) starting in 2026, following adoption of new SOLAS amendments. Additionally, the Top Tier Joint Industry Project, which aims to enhance container safety, is set to present its findings to the IMO in September. The WSC Cargo Safety Program, launching in 2025, will also implement an industry-wide system to flag misdeclared dangerous goods, a major contributor to shipboard fires.
New regulations regarding charcoal shipments are expected to be enacted in 2026, with many carriers adopting them in 2025. WSC’s report is informed by contributions from member companies that represent approximately 90% of the global container vessel capacity. Although mandatory reporting will commence in 2026, the WSC remains committed to providing consistent and transparent data through its annual report.