The World Shipping Council (WSC), the lobby group for liner shipping, has welcomed the recent adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 108). Starting January 1, 2026, these amendments will require mandatory reporting of all containers lost at sea.
“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 for safety and security at the WSC.
The new rules mean that the Master of a ship involved in the loss of containers must immediately and thoroughly report specific details to nearby ships, the nearest coastal state, and the flag state.
The flag state will then pass this information to the IMO via a new module in the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS).
Masters of ships that observe drifting containers must report it to nearby ships and the nearest coastal state.
Cases of containers lost at sea have been on the rise in recent years, with one of the most famous cases being the ONE Apus (pictured).
