Container losses at sea nearly tripled in 2025, with 1,478 lost, driven by severe weather and incidents like the MSC Elsa 3 capsizing.
The number of containers lost at sea in 2025 almost tripled compared with 2024, according to the World Shipping Council, reported London's Lloyd's List.
The WSC stated that 1,478 containers were lost last year, up from 576 in 2024. This significant rise was partly due to several high-profile incidents, including the capsizing of the 1,730 TEU MSC Elsa 3 off India in May, which accounted for 640 boxes.
Challenging weather conditions in the North Atlantic and North Pacific contributed to the increase, while fire-related incidents also remain a serious concern.
One of the most notable cases was the Wan Hai 503, a 4,252 TEU vessel that suffered explosions off India's southwest coast in June 2025, resulting in the tragic deaths of four seafarers.
Allianz data indicates that a containership fire occurs every 17 days, often linked to misdeclared cargo. WSC president Joe Kramek described misdeclared goods as a 'life-and-death safety issue' and warned that irresponsible shippers are endangering crews and undermining compliant operators.
Despite the rise in container losses, they remain well below historic peaks, such as the 5,578 containers lost in 2013, and represent only a fraction of the 280 million boxes moved globally each year.
New regulations effective in January require masters to report containers lost or observed drifting, while flag states must submit loss figures to the International Maritime Organization.
