OOCL Sunflower reaches Long Beach after losing containers in North Pacific Ocean

At least 32 shipping containers on a vessel were lost after it encountered heavy weather conditions in the North Pacific Ocean earlier this month.

According to reports from claims specialist WK Webster on March 20, the containership OOCL Sunflower (IMO 9949728) lost at least 32 containers overboard while transiting south of the Aleutian Island Chain in the North Pacific Ocean on March 3, 2026.

Initial reports indicate the vessel encountered severe weather conditions in the North Pacific shortly after departing Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the claims specialist said on Friday.

“Several containers stowed on deck were damaged or shifted as a result of the vessel’s violent motion. The entire forward stack was observed leaning to port, with a number of containers appearing to have been crushed. The damage is reported to be confined to a single forward row at the bow,” the statement of WK Webster reads.

The vessel was subsequently escorted into the Port of Long Beach, USA, arriving on March 18, where operations have commenced to remove the collapsed and damaged containers.

WK Webster warns now that possible loss or damage and recovery issues may arise as a result of this casualty.

Marine Traffic data showed the navigational status of the 2025-built, Hong Kong-flagged, 165321-dwt ship as “moored” late on Friday, March 20.

According to the World Shipping Council’s latest containers lost at sea report 576 containers were lost in 2024, out of the over 250 million containers transported.

While this represents an increase from 221 containers lost at sea in 2023, it remains well below the 10-year average of 1,274.

Container losses in 2024 were influenced by shifting global trade patterns, particularly in response to attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea. These disruptions led to a significant rerouting of vessels, with a 191 percent increase in transits around the Cape of Good Hope compared to the previous year. This area is known for hazardous maritime conditions, which contributed to some 200 containers lost in this region in 2024.