ONE Apus
2020-11-30 · North Pacific, ~1,600nm north-west of Hawaii · Post-Panamax container ship (14,000 TEU) · Japan flag
- Disaster type
- container loss
- Fatalities
- None
- Environmental damage
- Approximately 1,900 containers lost overboard, including 64 with hazardous IMDG-classified goods. Largest container loss in a single event in modern history.
Accident narrative
The Japanese-flagged Post-Panamax container ship ONE Apus (Ocean Network Express operator, Chidori Ship Holdings owner) lost approximately 1,900 containers overboard in heavy weather in the North Pacific on 30 November 2020. The vessel was in following-sea conditions with encounter periods near the ship's natural roll period — the classic parametric-roll scenario. Roll amplitude exceeded 30-40°. Lashings failed on the upper container tiers first, then propagated down through the stack. Sixty-four of the lost containers carried IMDG hazardous cargoes. She proceeded under her own power to Kobe for damage assessment. The claim total exceeded $500m — one of the largest single container-cargo losses in insurance history.
Crew perspective
ONE Apus is the definitive modern case for the officer's understanding of parametric roll + why speed reduction and course-change to avoid following seas is not optional — it is legally required by IMO MSC.1/Circ.1228. Every container-ship master studies the Apus track + weather-routing failure that led to the loss.
Regulatory response
IMO MSC.1/Circ.1638 review of lashing standards in extreme weather. IACS UR review of container-lashing forces under parametric roll. Direct impetus for the 2022 amendments to IMO Container Loss Reporting Guidelines.
See also
- · Wikipedia article — source of many facts here.
- · Vessel flag: Japan
- · Other historic maritime disasters
- · Accident investigation framework