Ultra-Large Containership OOCL Sunflower Loses 57 Containers In North Pacific Storm

A large container ship operated by Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) lost dozens of containers while crossing the North Pacific after running into severe weather south of the Aleutian Islands.

The 16,828-TEU containership OOCL Sunflower lost about 57 containers overboard on March 3 when heavy seas caused strong and sudden ship movements during its transpacific voyage to the United States.

The total extent of the damage will only be known after the vessel reaches the Port of Long Beach, California, where it is scheduled to arrive on March 12.

Reports shared with U.S. authorities said the vessel encountered extreme weather and large waves near the southwestern tip of the Aleutian Island chain.

The harsh conditions caused violent rolling and pitching, which led to dozens of containers falling into the sea. Several other containers remained on deck but were damaged or shifted from their secured positions.

Because of the dangerous weather, the crew could not immediately check the full situation on board. A detailed inspection of the cargo stacks and the ship’s structure will be carried out once the vessel docks safely in Long Beach.

The OOCL Sunflower is one of the newest ships in the company’s fleet. The vessel was delivered in January 2025 by Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co. (DACKS) as part of a new series of ultra-large container vessels.

The ship measures 366.99 meters in length with a beam of 51.04 meters and can carry up to 16,828 TEU of containers. It sails under the Hong Kong flag and has a deadweight of about 165,321 tons.

The vessel departed Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on February 23 after starting its voyage in China and was heading across the Pacific toward the United States when it encountered the storm system.

The U.S. Coast Guard informed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) about the incident on March 9, stating that the container loss happened several days earlier on March 3.

Per initial reports, 57 containers went overboard, while others remained on deck but may have been damaged.

Authorities said the crew plans to complete a full evaluation once the ship arrives at the Port of Long Beach. The Coast Guard’s Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach is expected to carry out a survey to check the vessel’s condition and assess any risks to navigation or the environment.

Since January 2026, ships are required to report container losses to the nearest coastal state and to their flag state. They must also warn nearby vessels about possible floating hazards.

These rules were introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to improve reporting and tracking of containers lost at sea.

Although container losses have generally declined in recent years, severe weather still poses risks for large container ships operating on long ocean routes.

According to the World Shipping Council, about 576 containers were lost worldwide in 2024, which is much lower than the ten-year average of 1,274 containers lost annually.

The North Pacific is known for powerful winter storms that can create large waves and strong winds. In the past, several major container loss incidents have taken place in the region, including the ONE Apus accident in 2020 and other cases involving Maersk vessels.

References: balitangmarino, maritimetelegraph