Samsung Heavy Industries has revealed its Special Structure Anti-Container Loss (SSA-CL) technology to minimize container loss incidents for ships during adverse weather conditions.
According to the Korean Economic Daily, SSA-CL, which can be attached to the ship’s lashing bridge, is designed to limit the lateral movement of containers. With its implementation, container loss rates could see a decline of up to 70%. Reportedly, the conceptual design of the SSA-CL has received endorsements from major classification societies, including Norway’s DNV, the US’s ABS, the UK’s LR, and Korea’s KR.
In recent years, the issue of containers lost at sea has gained more attention due to concerns about the environmental impact and safety risks. The consequences of containers lost overboard include potential hazards to navigation, environmental pollution from container contents, and financial losses.
According to World Shipping Council (WSC)’s annual report on containers lost at sea, in 2022, 661 containers were lost at sea. This represents less than one thousandth of 1% (0.00026%) of the 250 million containers currently shipped each year, with cargo transported valued at more than $7 trillion.
As a result, efforts are ongoing in the shipping industry to mitigate the risk of containers being lost overboard. The liner shipping industry works continuously to further enhance container safety, partnering with governments and other stakeholders to reduce the number of containers lost at sea. Some measures that are currently trying to tackle the issue include:
- 107th session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 107) approved with a view to subsequent adoption, draft amendments to SOLAS chapter V with regard to the reporting of the loss of containers.
- ClassNK has recently released its latest Technical Journal, focusing on efforts toward the safe operation of progressively larger container ships.
- In an exclusive interview to SAFETY4SEA, Mr. John Butler, President and CEO of the World Shipping Council (WSC), had noted that a Notice to Mariners has been developed, describing how container vessel crew and operational staff can plan, recognize and act to prevent parametric rolling.
