46 Containers Lost Overboard Off Philippine Coast

Container Loss Prompts Coast Guard Response Near Batangas

According to a report by The Maritime Executive, the Philippine Coast Guard issued a navigational warning for a heavily trafficked shipping lane after the containership Span Asia 39 lost 46 boxes overboard near Hamilo Point in the Batangas area. The incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. local time on September 3, while the vessel was roughly 1.5 nautical miles from shore. At least one container has since washed up on the beach, and search efforts were continuing to locate the rest.

What Happened Aboard the Vessel

The Span Asia 39, an 8,300 dwt interisland containership built in 2006, measures 115 meters in length and can carry up to 564 TEU. Owned by Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. and promoted by the company as a “game changer” for its Manila-Cebu-CDO-Cebu-Manila route at a service speed of 15 knots, the ship had departed Davao International Container Terminal on August 31 carrying 332 containers.

While transiting near Hamilo Point, the vessel ran into rough seas with sustained heavy rolling. The motion reportedly loosened the container lashings, sending 30 twenty-foot boxes, 11 forty-foot boxes, and five open-top units into the water. The operator stated that all of the lost containers were empty. The vessel then continued toward the North Manila Anchorage, but while maneuvering there later that afternoon, an additional container went overboard and was reported to have sunk.

Search and Drift-Tracking Operations

The Coast Guard responded by dispatching the patrol vessel CGS Cavite to the loss site, deploying a drone to assist in locating floating debris. The multi-purpose response vessel BRP Malapascua was also sent to help with the search and drift-tracking, working to determine where remaining containers might have drifted given local currents and weather.

Why This Matters for Owners and Managers

Even when the lost containers are described as empty, an overboard-loss event of this scale is a serious operational and safety concern. Floating or partially submerged boxes pose a collision hazard to other vessels, particularly in a busy interisland corridor, and any containers that sink can become a longer-term navigational hazard or environmental concern depending on their construction and any residual cargo remnants or coatings.

The stated cause — loosened lashings during heavy rolling — points squarely at cargo securing practices and stow planning as the areas warranting scrutiny. For interisland and short-sea operators running smaller containerships on tight rotations, lashing gear condition, securing arrangements for empty and open-top units, and voyage planning around expected sea states are all factors that a condition survey or pre-departure cargo inspection can help verify before a vessel puts to sea. Empty containers, often assumed to be lower risk, can actually be more susceptible to shifting in heavy weather due to their lighter weight and reduced stack stability compared to loaded boxes.

For charterers and terminal operators along this route, the incident is also a reminder to confirm that lashing equipment inspections and securing checks are documented as part of routine port calls, not just at initial loading. Where losses do occur, having recent survey documentation of hold and deck conditions, lashing gear, and container stow plans can materially assist insurers and investigators in determining root cause and liability.

Outlook

As of the report, Philippine Coast Guard assets remained engaged in locating the remaining containers, with the navigational warning still in effect for vessels transiting the area. The outcome of the search, along with any follow-up review of the vessel’s lashing procedures, will likely shape how the operator and regulator address similar risks on this busy interisland route going forward.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.