The loss of containers from a violently rolling Zim-operated container ship has highlighted gaps in training for seafarers to deal with such rare events, according to a Canadian investigation.
The 4,253-teu Zim Kingston (built 2008) ran into stormy weather off Vancouver Island in British Columbia in October 2021 and experienced the phenomenon of parametric rolling — a series of side-to-side rolls that dislodged 109 containers.
Parametric rolling occurs in specific circumstances when sea conditions combine with the characteristics of a ship to spark 50-degree side-to-side rolls that can result in lost cargo.
The absence of up-to-date comprehensive guidance may mean company policies and procedures to tackle parametric rolling are “inconsistent, ineffective, or absent altogether”, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada accident report.
It said several investigations, including the Zim Kingston case, had revealed “inconsistencies and inadequacies with respect to bridge crew training” around parametric rolling.
The International Maritime Organization is updating advice, but no guidance material was on board the Zim Kingston that was available to its 21-strong crew, said the report.
The World Shipping Council said last month that the number of containers lost at sea fell to the lowest level in 16 years. Out of 250m containers transported last year, only 221 were lost.
A three-year industry-backed project led by Dutch maritime research centre Marin has focused on improving training materials for seafarers to avoid and manage different kinds of dangerous parametric rolling.
The loss of containers on the Zim Kingston was followed 36 hours later by a fire that started in a damaged container holding hazardous materials. The blaze spread and took five days to be put out.
The fire on the Danaos Corp-owned container ship also highlighted gaps in Canada’s ability to respond to marine emergencies, the report said.
It said it was fortunate that the vessel’s manager had pre-arranged for emergency response and that two suitably equipped vessels happened to be nearby.
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