SIMIC

Up to 100 containers were sighted drifting north-west of Honolulu, posing as hazard to small craft, said the report.

The accident is the third serious incident on the trade lane in less than two months, as the Ocean Network Express (ONE) Apus lost more than 1,800 containers on November 30.

On average, 1,382 containers are lost at sea each year from 5,000 container vessels in operation.

"We view this as a very serious situation which will be investigated promptly and thoroughly. We will be taking any necessary steps to minimise the risk of similar incidents in the future," said Maersk.

Containerships can roll 30 to 40 degrees, a list that can snap lashings and locks of containers stacked 10 high above the weather deck.

A report into the January 2018 loss of 137 containers in the Pacific from the 13,460-TEU CMA CGM Washington concluded that a number of factors such as excessive racking loads caused the box spill.