How many shipping containers fall into the sea each year?
Shipping containers are an indispensable part of global trade, transporting goods around the world with incredible efficiency. But even this system has its weaknesses. Every year, some containers are lost in transit and end up in the oceans, representing not only an economic but also an environmental loss. So how many containers end up at the bottom of the seas and oceans every year, and what are the consequences of these losses?
Statistics of lost containers
According to the World Shipping Council (WSC), container loss statistics have been published every three years since 2011. The average number of containers lost per year is around 1,382. However, in recent years this figure has been gradually decreasing. For example, over the last three years the average has fallen to 779 containers per year.
Disasters and accidents
More than half of the lost containers are the result of major accidents that could be described as catastrophic. These events include, for example, the 2013 break-up of the MOL Comfort container ship in the Indian Ocean, in which 4,293 containers were lost. Other notable events were the wreck of the MV Rena following a navigational error off the coast of New Zealand, in which around 900 containers were lost, or the sinking of the SS EL Faro during Hurricane Joaquin in 2015, in which 517 containers were lost.
Environmental and economic consequences
Each lost container represents not only an economic loss for shipping companies, but also a potential environmental threat. Containers can contain hazardous substances that can leak into the environment and threaten marine fauna and flora. In addition, floating containers pose a danger to shipping, especially to yachts.
Danger for boaters
A floating container in the sea is a deadly hazard for yachts. The chances of the helmsman noticing such a danger are minimal during the day and practically none at night. Although many containers sink quickly to the bottom after falling into the sea, some can remain afloat for tens of hours or even several days. The likelihood of a collision with a floating container, while very low, still exists.
Reducing the number of lost containers
Although the number of lost containers has been decreasing in recent years, shipping companies are trying to minimize this number even further. They are investing heavily in improving container safety and security. Modern technology and innovations in ship and container design are helping to make the transport of goods safer than ever before.
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