In its 108th session, the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted amendments to Chapter 5 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). These amendments will require mandatory reporting of all containers lost at sea, starting January 1, 2026.
Ship captains who experience container losses must now promptly report the incident to nearby vessels, the nearest coastal state, and the flag state of the ship. They must also provide updated information on the position and number of containers adrift as soon as additional data becomes available.
Lost containers present significant dangers to navigation, the environment, and overall maritime safety. The latest IMO report indicates that 661 containers were lost at sea in 2022 out of 250 million transported, representing the lowest loss rate since records began in 2008.
Weather conditions greatly influence this issue, with significant losses occurring during severe events. For example, in November 2020, the ONE APUS vessel lost over 1,800 containers in the Pacific Ocean. According to the ship’s owner, the vessel “encountered a storm with violent winds and large swells, resulting in severe rolling and the subsequent loss of containers into the ocean.”
These amendments are designed to improve maritime safety and environmental protection by ensuring prompt and accurate reporting of lost containers, aiding in their recovery, and reducing the risks they pose.
