The mega-ship blocked traffic through the vital waterway for nearly a week, and the impact on global trade is still being felt. So far, none of the recent container accidents has been directly attributed to safety lapses.
The International Maritime Organization said it is still awaiting results of investigations into the latest incidents, and cautioned about making any conclusions before that. But many experts say the situation has grown more dangerous because of pressure on supply chains since the pandemic. When ships approach heavy weather, captains have the option to steer away from the danger. With boxes stacked ever higher, a ship can become more unstable in a storm — wave after wave can cause the vessel to roll at steep angles, putting strain on the securing of containers.
The situation becomes even worse if the stack is top-heavy. Romero, a captain who sailed from Japan to South America late last year. Overworked crews also heighten the risks. Reduced manpower onboard with an increased number of containers on deck make it increasingly difficult for crews to check every single bar and screw effectively, said Neil Wiggins, managing director of Independent Vessel Operations Services Ltd. The toppling of multiple tiers of foot containers during a raging storm is one of the most terrifying experiences for a captain and crew.
Post-traumatic stress disorder among crew members is common, according to Philip Eastell, founder of Container Shipping Supporting Seafarers. The agency said its sub-committee on the carrying of cargoes routinely looks at container issues and has scheduled its next meeting for September.
Have a news tip? Let us know. Kenya stopped Big retail players Target, Home Depot , Costco and Dollar Tree, are chartering ships to deal with the pandemic-driven port congestion and escalating concern, what Steve Ferreira calls, "Containergeddon. Tags: containers lost at sea. Sign up for our newsletter. This is particularly the case since there are strict dates and times during which ships must arrive at their destination, meaning that there is little margin for diverting the ship in order to avoid bad weather.
However, if winds and waves get to a certain level of strength, there is almost nothing the crew can do to fully prevent cargo from falling off the ship. Misdeclaration of weight, improper packing of cargo, improper stowage, twist locks issues or a lack of maintenance of the containers are other risk factors which can cause containers to be lost at sea.
Although many believe shipping containers can float, this is not accurate, as most of them are not watertight. Some may last on the surface of the ocean for longer than others, and there are pictures and videos of containers floating up to 15 months after they have been lost at sea. Recent figures show that in alone, more than 3, shipping containers have been lost at sea. It seems that one reason for the huge spike in the amount of containers lost at sea that the world is currently experiencing is the coronavirus pandemic.
On a basic level, the pandemic has encouraged more people to shop from the comfort of their homes in order to minimize risks to their health, which has sharply increased the demand for timely shipping. The amount of urgency and tight deadlines associated with e-commerce shipping have meant an increase in accidents aboard cargo ships. However, the record number of shipping containers lost at sea in is also owed to a host of other factors. Weather is becoming more unpredictable as scientists warn of the effect of global warming , making it harder for ships to choose better routes.
Ship sizes are also increasing as the industry strives for efficiency, meaning that boxes of cargo are stacked higher and higher — making it more likely that they topple when other risk factors are at play. Apart from the containers lost at sea, many had also collapsed on deck — raising the number of containers either lost or damaged on that one vessel. The weather is one of the greatest forces in the world. Something the ONE Apus cargo vessel can confirm.
So can the Evergreen Machine containership that also encountered bad weather in December off the coast of Japan. The ship lost 36 shipping containers at sea. As well as several damaged containers on the ship itself.
Bad weather plays a major role in the damage and loss of shipping containers every year. Other significant factors are bad stowage, and improper supervision and handling.
Despite the risk of damaged and lost shipping containers, container insurance is often an area that is forgotten. Or maybe merely pushed aside. Cargo insurance covers the cargo inside the container. Container insurance, on the other hand, covers the equipment itself e.
Containers are far from cheap to replace. That is why having to pay for the entire value of the container quickly can turn into a big financial disadvantage. With the xChange container insurance, you can add it automatically to all the transactions with your containers. Click on the banner below and learn more about how the xChange insurance works. As the shipping industry continuously become more and more digitalized, it also opens up for new tools.
That is also the case when it comes to minimizing the risk of losing shipping containers. With the events in December — and even the past years — a vast amount of money stands to be saved if container ship operators find a way to get around the bad weather.
That is where especially weather and vessel motion forecasting products come into the picture.
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