Containership SM Portland Reports Significant Cargo Damage and Container Losses Due to Severe Weather

The South Korean containership SM Portland has reported substantial cargo damage and container losses while en route to Vancouver through the Bering Sea.

According to a customer alert from SM Line dated March 5th, severe winter weather and strong winds caused the 4 228-TEU-capacity vessel to experience heavy rolling, resulting in the loss, collapse, and damage of 115 containers. The ship has reduced its speed for safety reasons and will be investigated by Canadian authorities before it can dock.

This incident occurs at a time when the liner shipping industry has seen a notable improvement in cargo losses at sea. A report from the World Shipping Council for 2024 noted an all-time low of 221 containers lost at sea in 2023, a decrease from 661 in 2022.

“We will make every effort to deliver your valuable cargo safely,” SM Line stated in their alert, adding that they are actively monitoring the situation to minimize the impact.

SM Line, established in 2016 as part of SM Group following the acquisition of Hanjin Shipping’s assets, primarily operates in transpacific and intra-Asia trade routes.

The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by containerships despite advancements in industry safety measures. New mandatory reporting requirements for containers lost at sea, adopted by the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee, will come into effect on January 1, 2026, aimed at improving navigational safety and environmental protection.

Historical data indicates that severe weather events can lead to significant container losses. Similar weather-related incidents in 2020-2021 resulted in major losses, including the ONE Apus incident, where over 1 800 containers were lost.

The SM Portland is currently awaiting clearance from the Canadian Transportation Ministry and coastguard before proceeding to dock.