Cargo Ship Loses 115 Containers in Bering Sea Due To Harsh Weather Conditions

The South Korean container ship SM Portland, operated by SM Line, encountered extreme winter weather conditions while sailing through the Bering Sea on its way to Vancouver, Canada.

The 4,228-TEU vessel battled strong winds and rough seas, and heavily rolled in the loss collapse and damage of 115 containers.

SM Portland had departed from Busan, South Korea, over a week ago, making stops in China and South Korea before heading toward Vancouver. Over March 4, as it crossed the Bering Sea, the vessel encountered severe weather conditions.

According to SM Line, the high winds caused the ship to tilt dramatically, leading to container losses.

The vessel adjusted its course and slowed down to ensure safety. It is now on its journey across the Pacific under close monitoring. AIS tracking data confirmed that the vessel changed course on March 4 and resumed its route the next day at a reduced speed.

On March 5, SM Line issued a customer alert, informing cargo owners about the container losses. The company urged its clients to check their shipping documents to confirm whether their cargo was affected.

As soon as the vessel reaches Vancouver, it will undergo an investigation by Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard before being allowed to berth.

SM Line has warned customers about possible delays due to the inspection process. The company assured that it is actively monitoring the situation to minimise disruptions.

A 2024 report by the World Shipping Council revealed that 221 containers were lost at sea in 2023, a major drop from 661 containers in 2022.

The industry has been working to reduce container losses by improving safety protocols, increasing crew training and implementing new technologies to detect dangerous rolling conditions.

The shipping industry came across many container loss incidents in 2020-2021 including the ONE Apus disaster, where over 1,800 containers were lost due to severe weather. Similarly, Maersk Essen and Maersk Eindhoven also lost containers.

In response, the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee has introduced mandatory reporting requirements for lost containers, which will come into effect on January 1, 2026.

These new rules will improve navigational safety and environmental protection by ensuring accurate reporting of container losses.

SM Line, established in 2016 as part of South Korea’s SM Group, was formed after acquiring assets from Hanjin Shipping. The company operates a fleet of over 20 vessels, primarily serving transpacific and intra-Asia trade lanes.

It launched its North American service in 2017 and continues its Pacific routes in cooperation with Korean carrier HMM.

References: kuehne-nagel, portnews

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