ONE Apus
{{Short description|Container ship}}
File:ONE APUS (50397177268).jpg
The ONE Apus is a 14,000 TEU container ship. In 2020, it lost approximately 1,816 containers overboard in the Pacific Ocean, the largest loss of containers in transport since 2013.
Vessel
The ONE Apus is a 14,000 TEU container ship built in 2019, measuring 364 meters long. The vessel is one of a series of 15 Bird-class container ships, operated by Japan's Ocean Network Express, sailing under the Japanese flag.{{cite news |last1=Shen |first1=Chichen |title=ONE boxship loses containers in Pacific |url=https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1134940/ONE-boxship-loses-containers-in-Pacific |access-date=27 May 2021 |agency=Lloyd's List |date=1 December 2020}}
2020 Pacific Ocean incident
On 30 November 2020 the ONE Apus was sailing from Yantian, Shenzhen, to Long Beach, California, when it encountered severe weather approximately {{convert|1600|nmi|km}} north-west of Hawaii.{{cite news |last1=Sheldrick |first1=Aaron |title=Container ship loses nearly 2,000 cargo carriers in Pacific storm |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-shipping-container-accident-idUSKBN28E0T7 |access-date=27 May 2021 |work=Reuters |date=4 December 2020}} Heavy rolling caused the loss overboard of approximately 1,816 containers including 64 with dangerous goods.{{cite news |last1=Waters |first1=Will |title=1,816 containers confirmed lost in ONE Apus incident |url=https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/1816-containers-confirmed-lost-in-ONE-Apus-incident/78026.htm#.YK92gflKjmY |access-date=27 May 2021 |agency=Lloyd's Loading List |date=7 December 2020}} The ship arrived at Kobe, Japan, on 8 December, where it offloaded nearly 1000 damaged containers, and resumed its voyage on 16 March 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021|title=ONE Apus Containership Returns to Sea After Three Month Recovery|url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/one-apus-containership-returns-to-sea-after-three-month-recovery|website=The Maritime Executive}} The weather at the time of the accident was reported as Beaufort force 4 with north-westerly seas of 5 to 6 meters and a "long high swell". Weather maps show significant wave heights of up to 16 meters associated with the weather system encountered by the vessel.{{cite news |title=ONE Apus arrives at Port of Kobe |url=https://safety4sea.com/one-apus-arrives-at-port-of-kobe |access-date=27 May 2021 |publisher=Safety4Sea |date=9 December 2020}}
The cause of the accident is being investigated. Still, it probably involves a combination of factors, including the weather conditions, the ship's rolling behaviour, and the inherent hazards of eight-high on-deck container stowage.{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=James |title=No easy answers for ONE Apus investigation |url=https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1135101/No-easy-answers-for-ONE-Apus-investigation |website=Lloyd's List |access-date=27 May 2021}} One contributor to the accident could be parametric roll resonance,{{cite web |last1=Spilman |first1=Rick |title=What Happened on the Container Ship ONE Apus? A Glimpse at Parametric Rolling |date=8 December 2020 |url=http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2020/12/what-happened-on-the-container-ship-one-apus-a-glimpse-at-parametric-rolling/ |access-date=10 December 2020}} a hazard known to affect container ships.{{cite book |title=Guide for the Assessment of Parametric Roll Resonance in the Design of Container Carriers |date=2019 |publisher=American Bureau of Shipping |url=https://ww2.eagle.org/content/dam/eagle/rules-and-guides/current/design_and_analysis/guide-assessment-parametric-roll-resonance-design-containercarriers/parametric-roll-guide-apr19.pdf |access-date=10 December 2020}}
The ONE Apus incident was the largest loss of containers in transport since the MOL Comfort sank in 2013. The cargo loss cost is estimated at $90 million.{{Cite web|last=Koh|first=A|date=2021|title=Shipping Containers Fall Overboard at Fastest Rate in Seven Years|website=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-26/shipping-containers-plunge-overboard-as-supply-race-raises-risks}} The ship was delayed for approximately three months. The cost of supply chain disruption for US manufacturers and retailers is not yet quantified. Insurance claims could exceed $200 million.{{cite web |last1=Chambers |first1=Sam |title=Drone survey suggests ONE Apus cargo claims could top $200m |url=https://splash247.com/drone-survey-suggests-one-apus-cargo-claims-could-top-200m/ |website=splash247 |date=14 December 2020 |access-date=27 May 2021}}