The ultra-large container ship OOCL Sunflower has arrived at the Port of Long Beach after losing 32 containers overboard en route from Taiwan.
g-Captain reported that the Hong Kong-flagged containership, with a capacity of 16,828 TEUs, lost 32 containers during heavy weather while transiting south of the Aleutian Islands. An additional 57 containers were reported damaged or shifted on the deck. Safety concerns in the port led the U.S. Coast Guard to establish a 100-yard safety zone as crews began offloading and inspectors assessed the extent of the damage.
Data from the World Shipping Council shows that 576 containers were lost at sea in 2024, up from the previous year, but below the 10-year average of 1,274 a year. Experts have associated the losses to more hazardous routes, including diversions around the Cape of Good Hope.