More than 500 Containers Lost in Heavy Seas

[Aussiesuede]

On any day, between 5 million and 6 million containers are on the high seas, carrying everything from potato chips to refrigerators. But not all of them make it to their destination, as the crew of the Svendborg Maersk have just found out.

Their Danish-flagged ship was in the Bay of Biscay last week as hurricane-force winds battered the Atlantic coast of Europe. Amid waves of 30 feet and winds of 60 knots, the Svendborg began losing containers off northern France. After the ship arrived in the Spanish port of Malaga this week, Maersk discovered that about 520 containers were unaccounted for. Stacks of others had collapsed.


It's the biggest recorded loss of containers overboard in a single incident.

Ship loses more than 500 containers in heavy seas - CNN.com

[MarkJ]

This thread has been about for a few days.
The average number of containers lost per year is 350 so I dont know how they get 5 million floating around.

I think everyone who believes that should stop their ideas if cruising and go back to work. It leaves more space between containers for the rest of us

[Richard5]

I read it as 5 or six million are onboard in normal transit of which a few hundred spill overboard per year.

[Coops]

That is how I read it as well.

Coops.

[roverhi]

Heard from a fellow who works for a major shipping company that actually 10,000 plus or minus a few containers are lost over board every year. Almost all sink immediately but a few do remain afloat. 350 containers would be the count lost in a single bout of bad weaner.

[MarkJ]

Ooooooooops. I better go back to reading school.

Sorry.





Mark

[sailorboy1]

why don't the floating ones end up with all the plastic in the Pacific trash vortex?

[deluxe68]

I thought the new ones had to be modified so they do not float?

[MarkJ]

I think every French fisherman will be out there looking for floating containers to salvage.

[OutOfControl]

Lets hope boatman61 aka Phil doesn't find one.

[shorebird]

Well Robert Redford found one.

[Blue Stocking]

In the 60s, my now deceased father, who had started as a 9 year old cabin boy, in 1910, and stayed right thru to diesel powered ships, told me containers would never catch on. Hmmm!

[Mike OReilly]

Here's one for our legal maritime minds: Is there any legal liability associated with these floating hazards? Does the shipping company, or perhaps the shipper, carry any responsibility for the crap they leave in the water? If I run into one, and sustain damage, can I bring a claim against the shipper?

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Here's one for our legal maritime minds: Is there any legal liability associated with these floating hazards? Does the shipping company, or perhaps the shipper, carry any responsibility for the crap they leave in the water? If I run into one, and sustain damage, can I bring a claim against the shipper?

Great question Mike!

I wanna know too!

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Here's one for our legal maritime minds: Is there any legal liability associated with these floating hazards? Does the shipping company, or perhaps the shipper, carry any responsibility for the crap they leave in the water? If I run into one, and sustain damage, can I bring a claim against the shipper?

I imagine they are responsible, all you have to do is sue from heaven (or hell) after you hit one and are lost at sea.!
Man they stack those things high, why doesnt the Coast Goard stop their "inherently unsafe voyage" before they leave port?