Emerging marine pollution from container ship accidents: Risk characteristics, response strategies, and regulation advancements

Container ship accidents can contaminate the surrounding marine environment and even have wider impact. Our study aims to provide a comprehensive review of emerging marine pollution from container ship accidents with the focus on risk characteristics, response strategies, and regulation advancements. It was found that the number of container ship accidents significantly increased in the past decade, and most accidents occurred in ports, harbors, piers, anchorages, berths, and open seas. The types of accidents were mainly collisions, groundings, and fires. The risk of marine pollution from container ship accidents is complex due to the variety of containerized cargo. The contamination derived from heavy metal, plastic fiber, leaked fuel, and hazardous and noxious substances after accidents can endanger entire marine habitats and be continuously accumulated through the food chain, eventually posing a threat to human health. The risks and pollution caused by container boxes are often overlooked. There is a basic response process, comprising data collection, decision-making, emergency response, monitoring, etc., for container ship accidents. There are currently deficiencies in management regulations for mitigating sunken container pollution. Improving operating procedures, establishing regional cooperation frameworks, developing contingency plans and protocols, and increasing public awareness can help deal with these pollution issues.