Safety at Sea
Keeping Crew, customers and assets safe
The world of international logistics is not immune to the threats of terrorism, piracy, and trafficking of illegal goods. WSC members take these threats seriously and implement detailed plans and procedures to ensure safety and security.
Seafarer Welfare
Being a seafarer is quite different from an ordinary job on land. Seafarers are usually on board for several months, and then have several weeks or months off before mustering on again. As part of their job, crews are exposed to extremes of weather, operational hazards and dangerous cargoes.
Piracy
Piracy is as old as shipping and remains a significant threat. Although liner vessels - container ships and roll-on/roll-off vessels - are generally at lower risk for hijackings because of their higher operating speeds and freeboard (height above the water), they have been consistently targeted by pirates especially off Somalia and in the Gulf of Guinea.
Protecting Freedom of Navigation
Add a summary here.
Container Safety
How to safely handle containers is described in detail in the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice, known as the CTU Code. But despite this, there have been several widely reported fires aboard containerships, where containerised cargoes may have been the cause. Container stack failures, vehicle roll-overs, train derailments and internal cargo collapses, can all too often be traced to poor packing practices.
Cargo Safety Program
Learn about the composition of the shipping industry, the role of liner shipping, and how we contribute to growth and employment in economies across the world.
Containers Lost at Sea
In 2024, approximately 576 containers were lost at sea, out of the over 250 million containers transported. The liner industry is taking proactive measures to prevent incidents and enhance cargo safety. Every container overboard is one too many.
Cargo Integrity
The Cargo Integrity Group brings together international freight transport and cargo handling organisations with different roles in the supply chain and a shared dedication to improving safety, security and environmental performance throughout the logistics supply chain.