The World Shipping Council (WSC) has released its annual Containers Lost at Sea Report, showing that an estimated 1478 containers were lost at sea in 2025 out of approximately 280 million transported globally. This is equivalent to 0.0005 percent of global containers transported.
The 2025 figure is an increase from the 576 containers lost in 2024 and is above the recent three-year average. This was strongly influenced by several discrete, but significant incidents, with one major vessel loss accounting for 640 containers, or approximately 43 per cent of all containers lost during the year.
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Weather and fires major contributors
The report identifies challenging weather and ocean conditions, particularly in the North Atlantic and North Pacific as a key contributor to container losses. While the total number of storms globally was not significantly higher than average, the year was marked by warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures, which can intensify storms and increase wave energy, periods of more severe and less predictable weather, and regional conditions that created difficult operating environments, including strong winter storms and unusual ocean patterns.
In addition to weather, several operational factors contributed to losses, including fire-related incidents, cargo shift and stack collapse in rough seas, and individual vessel incidents, including groundings and total losses.
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All containers lost now have to be reported
The report also shows that 128 containers were recovered in 2025, the highest recovery figure recorded since WSC began gathering recovery data in 2023.
WSC has conducted its Containers Lost at Sea surveys since 2011, covering losses from 2008 onwards. From 1 January 2026, new mandatory international reporting requirements entered into force, with amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea requiring all containers lost or observed drifting at sea to be reported. Flag states must also report the number of containers lost at sea to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Initiatives to improve safety
The report highlights ongoing work to improve container and cargo safety, such as the WSC Cargo Safety Programme designed to help prevent misdeclaration of dangerous goods. In recent years, ship fires have increased to their highest level in over a decade, with misdeclared or undeclared dangerous goods identified as a leading cause. With a digital screening tool, the programme seeks to improve the detection of high-risk shipments before they are loaded on board.
A revised draft of the Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) has now been developed and submitted for approval. Once finalised, the updated Code will provide an important foundation for improving cargo integrity and reducing avoidable risks – including those that can contribute to container loss at sea – by reinforcing best practices across all parties involved in the packing, handling and transport of containers.
The TopTier Joint Industry Project (JIP), led by MARIN and involving more than forty industry stakeholders, has submitted its final report to the IMO, providing recommendations to improve container safety and reduce losses at sea. The project identified the main causes of container losses, developed practical tools and training for seafarers, and proposed regulatory and standards updates to the IMO and ISO.
The WSC has welcomed new regulations that classify all charcoal shipments as dangerous goods under the IMDG Code. The rules, which also introduce stricter treatment, packing and stowage requirements, are intended to prevent fires caused by improperly handled cargo. Many ocean carriers have already adopted the stricter requirements during 2025.
The full Containers Lost at Sea Report: 2026 Update is available to download on the WSC website.
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Data transparency and industry participation
WSC’s Containers Lost at Sea report is based on direct input from member companies representing approximately ninety per cent of the global container vessel capacity. Data is extrapolated to provide an industry-wide estimate, assuming comparable performance from non-participating carriers. While industry-wide reporting will become mandatory from 2026, WSC is committed to continuing the Containers Lost at Sea report for consistency and transparency.
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