| Even if your boat is insured, you as an owner | | | | is submerged just below the water level, is a |
| have the responsibility of securing your | | | | myth that can be disproven with the laws of |
| property. In the event of an accident or | | | | physics. Just how much cargo is lost at sea? |
| damage, boat owners of insured vessels have | | | | Estimates vary between 2,000 to 10,000 |
| every reason to remain calm, as your marine | | | | containers every year. Accidents due to human |
| insurance company will strive to deal with | | | | error and natural disasters can happen |
| the case fairly. Here are tips of what to do | | | | unexpectedly. Everything that could go on a |
| after loss or damage. Inform your insurer as | | | | ship could be lost, from cars to spare parts. |
| soon as possible. In case of theft or a | | | | Some, however, manage to float to shore, |
| malicious third party, inform the police. | | | | including rubber shoes and rubber ducks. The |
| Fill out and submit the claim form | | | | consequences are not only economic; they are |
| immediately, attached with repair estimates. | | | | also environmental costs. Oil and dangerous |
| A Marine Surveyor may contact you to advise | | | | materials are transported by sea, posing |
| on repairs and make a report. The Container | | | | serious harm to marine life when spills |
| Owners Association calculates that a fully | | | | occur. Piracy is also a possibility and there |
| loaded 20-foot dry freight container will | | | | are fears that pirates and terrorists are |
| float because its volume displaces 83,000 | | | | teaming up. In the next few posts, we will |
| pounds of water, more than its weight of 30 | | | | take a closer look at container shipping. The |
| tonnes or 66,000 pounds. Mathematically, it | | | | World Cruising Club is circumnavigating the |
| would float with 18 inches sticking out of | | | | globe this very moment. They started from the |
| the water. However, if water enters and | | | | Caribbean in January and are presently in the |
| increases the weight to over 83,000 pounds, | | | | area of the Cook Islands in the Pacific. |
| the container will sink. Floating containers | | | | Sailing around the world is the dream of many |
| were previously shot at or exploded to sink | | | | a sailor, and it is an great accomplishment |
| them and reduce their danger to ships because | | | | in its own right, as the oceans of the world |
| this was less expensive than salvage costs | | | | are vast expanses that demand competent |
| for towing and recovery. This is now illegal | | | | crews. World ARC has been running events such |
| because of the pollution risk it poses. The | | | | as this for the past 20 years and have plenty |
| Container Owners Association provides some | | | | of experience in ocean sailing. There is |
| information collected from its members about | | | | weather and routing advice, and yacht |
| floating shipping containers. How long a | | | | positions are tracked and updated frequently. |
| container cast adrift or fallen overboard | | | | There are required safety and communications |
| will float before sinking depends on the | | | | equipment, and potentially unsafe areas are |
| container and its cargo. It is possible for | | | | avoided. The fleet should reach Fiji in July, |
| containers to sink instantly or stay adrift | | | | Mauritius in October and Cape Town in time |
| for years. However, even empty containers may | | | | for Christmas. |
| not watertight and sink almost immediately. | | | | |
| Containers with large but low-density cargo | | | | Jon Caldwell is a professional content |
| have a better chance of floating. COA members | | | | manager. |
| say that the "sub-floater" or container that | | | | |