More than one in ten cargo transport units inspected by government authorities in 2025 were found with safety deficiencies, according to the World Shipping Council (WSC).
Authorities in seven countries carried out 93,079 inspections during the year and identified deficiencies in 9,645 units, representing a rate of 10.36%.
The problems included incorrect documentation, marking and labelling, improper packing and inadequate cargo securing.
According to the WSC, such deficiencies can increase the risk of cargo damage, containers being lost at sea and fires aboard ships.
“Finding deficiencies in more than one in ten inspected units is far too high,” said Joe Kramek, President and CEO of the World Shipping Council.
“Correct declaration, packing, securing and marking are fundamental safety obligations. When these requirements are not met, people’s lives are put at risk,” he added.
Deficiency rate remains above 10%
The latest results represent a slight improvement from 2024, when 11.39% of inspected cargo units were found with deficiencies.
However, the rate has remained above 10% for three consecutive years, standing at 11% in 2023, 11.39% in 2024 and 10.36% in 2025.
The WSC said the findings underline the importance of correctly declaring, packing, securing and marking cargo before transport.
The container shipping industry has increasingly focused on misdeclared and undeclared cargo, particularly dangerous goods, because of the safety risks they can create throughout the transport chain.
Only seven countries reported results
The 2025 figures were based on inspection results submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by Chile, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden and the United States.
As a result, the 10.36% figure does not mean that more than one in ten containers worldwide have safety deficiencies. It applies specifically to the cargo transport units inspected and reported by those seven countries.
The limited participation was also highlighted by the WSC, which noted that only seven of the IMO’s more than 170 Member States submitted inspection results.
“The fact that only seven Member States reported results is concerning. More governments need to report their inspections so that risks can be consistently identified and action taken,” said Kramek.
