A total of 576 containers were lost at sea in 2024, a rise from 221 in 2023, but still well below the 10-year average of 1,274.
The figures, published by the World Shipping Council (WSC) in its annual Containers Lost at Sea report, underscore continued progress in maritime safety and loss prevention efforts.
The report is based on direct input from member companies representing about 90 per cent of global container vessel capacity.
Disruptions in the Red Sea region were a significant factor in 2024, as shipping lines altered global trade routes to avoid conflict zones. Consequently, vessel transits around the Cape of Good Hope rose by 191 per cent compared to 2023.
The Cape is recognised for hazardous maritime conditions, and the South African Maritime Safety Authority reported that around 200 containers were lost in this region alone.
READ: Red Sea volumes remain 60 per cent below pre-conflict levels
Despite these challenges, the proportion of containers lost relative to those transported remains exceptionally low, at just 0.0002 per cent of the approximately 250 million containers shipped globally in 2024.
“This year’s report confirms that the vast majority of containers are transported safely across the oceans. Still, even one container lost is one too many,” said Joe Kramek, President & CEO of the World Shipping Council.
“Despite continued loss-prevention efforts by the industry, the re-routing of transits away from the Red Sea and around the Cape of Good Hope to keep global commerce moving has ocean carriers navigating one of the world’s most challenging routes, as highlighted in this report.”
The report highlights continued efforts across the liner shipping industry to improve container handling, stowage, and securing practices.
Safety is a shared responsibility, and the report outlines the essential roles played by each part of the supply chain, from shippers and freight forwarders to terminal operators and ocean carriers.
READ: Record low in containers lost at sea
Several major safety initiatives are also featured in the report.
Mandatory reporting of container losses to the IMO will begin in 2026, following the adoption of new SOLAS amendments, a development long advocated for by the WSC.
The Top Tier Joint Industry Project, led by MARIN with WSC participation, will present its final report to the IMO in September. This project has made significant advances in improving container safety, identifying the main causes for losses, developing prevention tools, and making recommendations for regulatory changes.
The WSC Cargo Safety Program, launching in 2025, introduces the first industry-wide system for cargo screening to flag mis/undeclared dangerous goods, a leading cause of shipboard fires.
Additionally, new regulations on charcoal shipments will come into force in 2026, with many carriers set to implement these rules proactively in 2025.
