A raft of new International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules across a wide range of shipping operations are now in place, including mandatory reporting of lost containers and several measures designed to boost safety onboard vessels.
The changes came into force on January 1, 2026, as part of a general tightening of shipping industry regulations.
Under amendments to the SOLAS and MARPOL conventions, any lost containers must now be formally reported, and details shared with nearby vessels, coastal states and flag states – and ultimately passed on to the IMO.
The change aims to reduce the safety, environmental and operational risks of containers that are lost from vessels – including hazards to other ships and to the marine environment. The issue has been in focus following recent reports of containers being lost in severe weather off the UK.
The new regime is designed to improve visibility and accountability by speeding up reporting of incidents, correct logging of hazards and easier analysis of long-term trends. Further details on the new rules are available on the IMO website.