The World Shipping Council (WSC) has enthusiastically endorsed the recent amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) adopted by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee.
Effective January 1, 2026, these amendments will mandate the reporting of all containers lost at sea, setting a new benchmark for maritime safety and environmental protection.
“The new regulations, specifically amending SOLAS Chapter V Regulations 31 and 32, mark a significant advancement in maritime safety and environmental protection.
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,” said Lars Kjaer, Senior Vice President of Safety and Security for WSC.
Under the new provisions, the Master of a ship involved in the loss of containers must immediately report specific details to nearby ships, the nearest coastal state, and the flag State.
The flag State will then relay this information to the IMO through a new module in the Global Integrated Shipping Information System.
Additionally, Masters of ships who observe drifting containers must report them to nearby ships and the nearest coastal state as soon as possible, providing updates as more information becomes available.
A final count of lost containers must be confirmed after a thorough inspection. Mandatory details include the position of the lost containers, the total number lost, and whether any contained dangerous goods.
Additional descriptive information is required if possible, and Masters can also share voluntary details about the cargo, sea conditions, and more.
For drifting containers, reports must include the position and total number of containers spotted, with additional voluntary details similar to those for lost containers provided if available.
Since 2008, in anticipation of these mandatory reporting requirements, the WSC has gathered information from its members on the number of containers lost at sea.
This data, published regularly in the “Containers Lost at Sea Report” and submitted to the IMO, has been a crucial resource in efforts to improve container and cargo safety.
