One in Ten Inspected Cargo Units Found With Safety Deficiencies

More than one in ten cargo units inspected by government authorities last year were found with safety deficiencies, highlighting a persistent problem with how containers are declared, packed and secured before reaching ships.

The World Shipping Council said authorities in seven countries inspected 93,079 cargo transport units in 2025 and found deficiencies in 9,645 of them, a rate of 10.36%.

Problems ranged from incorrect documentation, marking and labeling to improper packing and inadequate cargo securing — deficiencies that can contribute to damaged cargo, containers lost overboard and fires at sea.

“Finding deficiencies in more than one in ten inspected