New regulations take effect! Shipping companies are now required to report the number of containers lost at sea.

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News

Time of issue：

2026-01-05 16:47

From reportable to optional

Must be reported

Latest update: According to the International Maritime Organization. The latest requirements of the amended provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), Starting January 1, 2026, container shipping companies will be required to report lost containers at sea.

Gard, a Norwegian maritime insurer, pointed out that after the new regulations take effect, not only crew members and shipping companies will be required to fulfill reporting obligations when containers fall overboard from their own vessels, but crew members must also immediately report any floating containers they spot at sea during navigation—even if those containers did not originate from their own ship.

Gard stated that this measure will help promptly notify nearby vessels, the competent authorities of relevant coastal countries, and the flag states of the vessels, thereby enhancing navigational safety and the efficiency of emergency response.

According to the new requirements, when a container is found missing or floating, it must be reported as completely as possible, including: the vessel’s identity, the location where the container was lost or found floating, the date and time of the incident, the number of containers known to be missing or floating, a description of the containers’ dimensions and types, and whether any hazardous materials were involved (with the corresponding United Nations hazard identification number specified).

Data shows that the number of containers lost at sea globally rose in 2024. According to statistics from the World Shipping Council, a total of 576 containers were lost at sea in 2024, an increase compared to 2023. The primary reason is the volatile situation in the Red Sea, which has prompted many shipping companies to reroute their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.

Bypassing the southern tip of Africa not only significantly lengthens the voyage but also exposes ships to even more extreme and unpredictable weather conditions. Just last year alone, nearly 200 containers were thrown into the sea by severe weather in this region.

However, Gard pointed out that this trend did not repeat itself this year, indicating that shipping companies have learned from their previous experiences and made adjustments in route planning and risk management.

From an overall perspective, the proportion of container losses at sea remains extremely low. In 2024, approximately 250 million containers were transported by sea worldwide, and the 576 containers lost accounted for about 0.0002% of the total volume of shipments.

A recently reported case that has attracted considerable attention involved the container ship “Continuity,” operated by Ocean Network Express (ONE), which encountered strong winds and rough seas while transiting the Bay of Biscay. Some media reports claimed that the vessel had lost 45 containers, but ONE has not disclosed the exact number of containers lost.

▲IMO’s latest regulations

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