The challenges in the maritime industry are growing daily, while the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is trying to find suitable solutions to tackle these challenges. One of the fatal challenges faced by vessels during voyages is container floating. When containers fall off the ship for any reason and do not sink in the sea, they float on the ocean surface or a little beneath it. If seafarers cannot locate them during navigation, the vessel may suffer severe damage. Let us explore a few hazards linked to container floating.
What is meant by container floating?
The maritime industry ships millions of containers annually, making it a major global transporter of goods. For international transport, most shipments are loaded onto vessels in the form of stacks and secured in position using container lashing. During voyages, ships traverse international waters for extended periods, facing various challenges such as harsh climates. These challenges can potentially lead to vessel imbalance or, in worst-case scenarios, sinking. Container lashing provides the containers with a proper support structure to withstand turbulence caused by rough weather, strong winds, and sea tides. However, there are instances when the ship cannot withstand external pressures, container stack imbalance, or when the ship is abandoned, resulting in containers falling from the vessel into the sea.
If the cargo containers are heavy enough, they immediately sink and reach the ocean floor. But in cases where the amount of water displaced is more due to the light weight of the container and the goods inside, the container does not submerge and instead floats on the ocean surface until it gets perforated due to rusting. Container floating is a significant possibility for empty containers being transported for repositioning purposes as they do not have any goods inside to increase their load and are, therefore, incapable of sinking independently.
Causes of container floating
The shipping containers are systematically arranged horizontally and vertically, stacked one on top of the other to form rigid structures that prevent slipping or falling off the ships, allowing them to withstand strong turbulence during the voyage. However, there are still cases where containers fall into the sea and float on the ocean surface. Several reasons for container floating include:
Improper lashing- It is crucial to use appropriate lashing equipment and techniques to ensure that the lashing remains secure despite jerks, tension, or pressure during the voyage. If the lashing is affected, containers may topple and fall off the ship, potentially causing adjacent containers to follow suit.
Ship abandonment- Due to financial issues or emergencies, shipping owners or seafarers may be compelled to abandon a ship along with its containers. In such situations, the containers are left on board for extended periods until the ship eventually sinks, taking the containers down with it.
Shipwrecks- Many catastrophic situations may lead to shipwrecks leading to maritime hazards. The sinking ship causes containers to fall off the vessel. While many containers reach the ocean floor, others are doomed to float on the surface.
Climatic conditions- Heavy winds, storms, high tides, and other adverse weather conditions can cause severe turbulence and strain among containers. Even with strong lashing, these conditions can lead to lashing failures and subsequent container falls.
What are the hazards of container floating?
Container floating may not sound like a significant issue for large vessels, but it is a severe issue for boats, fishing vessels, yachts, and smaller ships because-
These invisible containers lurk beneath waves and can puncture the hull or damage the rudder of vessels mid-way in their voyage. It can cause shipwrecks or severe damage that can be fatal.
These containers may also rust and leak with time before sinking, and if filled with hazardous cargo, oil spills, gas leaks, or radioactive releases can cause significant harm to the environment.
It also causes navigational hazards as it may damage the propellers making it challenging to carry the vessel further.
Container floating may not appear as a serious and significant issue at first, but when delved into more profoundly, the hazards may impact the other vessels passing by and prove fatal for them.
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