The latest data shows that a report released by the World Shipping Council (WSC) once again highlights the longstanding issue of inaccurate cargo declarations or improper packaging of containers. Based on an investigation by the industry organization using data from port state inspections, it was found that over 11% of containers have potential safety risks, which equates to approximately 27.5 million problematic containers each year out of the 250 million containers transported globally annually.

Joe Kramek, President and CEO of WSC, stated, "One in every ten batches of goods has issues, indicating that cargo safety problems still persist widely in this sector." He pointed out, "These cargo issues directly threaten the safety of crew, vessels, the cargo itself, and the surrounding environment."

Specific data from this inspection reveals that the percentage of containers with safety defects stands at 11.39%, slightly higher than the 11% recorded in 2023. Historical data indicates that the non-compliance rate remained consistently below 9% between 2017 and 2022, dropping to 6.5% in 2019. However, there was a notable increase in 2021, reaching 10.86%. The identified issues mainly include inaccurately declared dangerous goods, undeclared dangerous goods, errors in freight documentation, and improper cargo packaging. WSC emphasizes that these issues could lead to serious safety incidents such as ship fires.

The shipping industry has begun taking measures to address cargo safety issues, such as implementing new regulations for the supervision of charcoal transport platforms. While progress has been made in reducing the rate of containers falling into the sea, inaccurate cargo declarations and improper packaging remain core high-risk issues.

WSC calls on all parties to take action, pushing for the implementation of stricter safety control measures in the industry and encouraging more port states to participate in reporting cargo safety data. Currently, only seven port states regularly report cargo safety data. WSC believes that only by having more comprehensive data can one accurately understand the trends in problem development and support the development of effective solutions.