KIMO and the North Sea Commission have adopted a joint resolution on lost shipping containers.
The resolution calls on the European Union and International Maritime Organisation to take action to prevent accidents and protect coastal communities. It also calls on the EU to develop a Convention on Liability and Compensation for when shipping container accidents happen.
KIMO and NSC also ask the IMO develop a clear plan of action on lost shipping containers.
The NSC adopted the resolution ‘Lost Containers from Shipping‘ at its Annual Business Meeting on 6 November 2020. The resolution is a joint initiative with KIMO International, which passed a similar resolution in 2o19.
The topic of safe cargo shipping has been on KIMO’s agenda for many years. It also became a major issue for the NSC after of the MSC Zoe incident in January 2019.
The MSC Zoe lost a large number of containers along the Dutch coast. Goods from the containers polluted the waters in the entire Wadden Sea area and beyond. As a result Dutch fishermen participating in the Fishing for Litter have collected record amounts of waste this year. However, experts believe as much as 800,000kg of rubbish still needs to be cleaned up.
A major problem
Lost containers at sea is a major problem. Around the world, an average of almost 1400 containers are lost in storms or accidents every year. Floating containers are a risk for navigation and debris from the containers ends up on beaches. Although it has been discussed for decades, there is still no robust regime for liability and compensation.
KIMO and NSC are calling for a reduction in the number of containers lost overboard each year and for steps to be taken to mitigate their environmental impact, including on coastal communities. They also want governments to establish environmental liability and ensure that the polluter pays for the costs of clean up.
You can read the joint resolution on Lost Containers from Shipping on the North Sea Commission website.
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