The World Shipping Council (WSC) reported that in 2024, rerouting vessels to avoid the Red Sea conflict directly led to an increase in containers lost at sea.

According to WSC estimates, approximately 250 million containers were transported globally in 2024, with about 576 containers lost at sea—significantly higher than the 221 lost in 2023. Most of this increase is directly linked to a series of incidents near the Cape of Good Hope, where containerships diverted from the Red Sea encountered severe winter weather. Despite the rise, WSC noted that this number remains well below the 10-year average of 1,274 containers lost annually.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA) tracked several major incidents between July and September 2024:

• CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin lost 44 containers (44 containers overboard, 30 damaged; the vessel carried Chinese cargo and had called at Yantian, Yangshan, and Ningbo).

• CMA CGM Belem lost 99 containers (severe stack collapse during rough seas, nearly 100 containers lost, many containing Chinese goods).

• MSC Antonia lost 46 containers (over 40 containers fell into the sea, and hundreds more were damaged during bad weather).

• MSC Taranto lost five empty containers in October off the coast of South Africa.

WSC highlighted that the region is “notorious for hazardous maritime conditions” and reported a 191% increase in vessel traffic on the South Africa route in 2024 compared to 2023. It calculated that 35% of all container losses at sea in 2024 occurred on this rerouted path.

This year has been particularly challenging for the industry. In March, the SM Portland lost 115 containers during a Pacific storm.

Fires have also become a major concern. A fire aboard Maersk Frankfurt in 2024 resulted in crew fatalities and led to a declaration of general average.

The Wan Hai 503 has been burning for three weeks, also resulting in the loss of seafarer lives due to structural damage and stern submersion.

In addition, the MSC Elsa 3 sank off the Indian coast last month, with hundreds of containers lost, including dangerous goods.

MSC Baltic III also ran aground during a Canadian winter storm, though all 20 crew members were rescued.