Containers overboard
The number of containers lost overboard by ocean-going vessels increased 2.6-fold in 2024 compared to the previous year. According to the report by the World Shipping Council (WSC), 576 containers were lost last year, compared to 221 the year before, when a record low was reached.
The liner shipping association puts the ten-year average at 1,274 lost boxes. The sharp increase is primarily due to the ongoing disruptions in the Red Sea region. As a result, shipping companies are having to sail one of the most difficult routes in the world. Journeys around the Cape of Good Hope increased by 191 percent compared to 2023. According to the South African Maritime Safety Authority, around 200 containers were lost in this region alone. According to WSC 2024, a total of around 250 million containers were transported worldwide.
Source: DVZ 01.07.2025
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