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The World Shipping Council lauds the recent adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea by the International Maritime Organization
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Starting January 1, 2026, the amendments will require mandatory reporting of all containers lost at sea
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By ensuring prompt reporting of lost containers, the amendments will enhance navigational safety, facilitate swift response actions, and mitigate potential environmental hazards, WSC said
The World Shipping Council (WSC) lauded the recent adoption of an International Maritime Organization (IMO) rule that will require mandatory reporting of all containers lost at sea effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Lars Kjaer, Senior Vice President Safety & Security for WSC, in a statement said the new regulations “mark a significant advancement in maritime safety and environmental protection.”
The new rules are part of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea by IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 108).
By ensuring prompt and detailed reporting of lost and drifting containers, “these amendments will enhance navigational safety, facilitate swift response actions, and mitigate potential environmental hazards,” he added.
Among the provisions of the New Regulations 31 – Reporting by the Master of the Ship are:
- The Shipmaster involved in the loss must immediately and thoroughly report details to nearby ships, the nearest coastal state, and the flag State;
- The flag State will pass the information to the IMO via a new module in the Global Integrated Shipping Information System;
- Shipmasters who observe drifting containers must report it to nearby ships and the nearest coastal state.
Regulation 32 – Reporting Details: For Containers Lost at Sea:
- Reports must be made ASAP, with updates as more information becomes available;
- A final count of lost containers must be confirmed after a thorough inspection;
- Mandatory details to include the position of the lost containers, total number lost, and if any container contained dangerous goods. Additional descriptive information is required if possible.
- Masters can also share voluntary details about the cargo, sea conditions, and more.
For Drifting Containers Observed:
- Reports must include the position and total number of containers spotted drifting;
- Additional voluntary details similar to those for lost containers can be provided I’f available.
In anticipation of the introduction of mandatory reporting requirements, the WSC has gathered information from its members on the number of containers lost at sea since 2008.
Published regularly in the Containers Lost at Sea Report and submitted to the IMO, the report has been an important source of data for all efforts to raise container and cargo safety.
The ‘Containers Lost at Sea Report — 2024 Update’ will be published soon, providing 2023 data.
The WSC commended the IMOP and its member states for their dedication to the crucial issues and said it looks forward to the successful implementation of the regulations.
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