Over 1,500 Containers Lost at Sea Annually
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The World Shipping Council (WSC) has 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, and 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. The updated report not only provides more accurate and up-to-date data on the issue, but also identifies those initiatives the industry is supporting to increase container safety and reduce such losses. While nobody can eliminate the challenges of bad weather or the risk of vessel casualties at sea, care and cooperation amongst all those who pack, handle, weigh, stow and secure containers is needed to improve safety,” said Chris Koch, WSC president and CEO.
The full report is available here.