Source: Splash247
Date: 8th September 2025

A new cargo safety report by the World Shipping Council (WSC) reveals that more than one in ten shipments inspected in 2024 contained deficiencies.

The figure of 11.39% marks a slight increase from the previous year’s 11% recorded by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) before it discontinued the dataset.

Deficiencies ranged from misdeclared or undeclared dangerous goods to improper documentation and unsafe packing, all of which pose major risks to crews, vessels, cargo, and the marine environment.

The report, based on port state inspection data, revisits a dataset dating back to 2011 and highlights the persistence of safety gaps that continue to endanger shipping.

Misdeclared cargoes, in particular, remain one of the industry’s greatest hidden threats.

Despite international regulations requiring accurate declarations and verified weights, shippers and forwarders often falsify details or cut corners to save costs.

These practices have contributed to major maritime casualties in recent years, with fires, explosions, and cargo stack collapses traced back to incorrectly declared containers.

To address these challenges, the WSC is calling for broader government participation in data sharing and is preparing to launch an industry cargo safety programme aimed at improving screening and inspections.

By consolidating inspection findings and presenting them to the IMO, the council hopes to drive greater accountability and stronger preventive measures.

However, with misdeclaration ranking as one of the leading causes of container ship accidents, the report warns that urgent action is still needed to strengthen compliance and enhance cargo safety across global supply chains.