At the time of writing, the capsizing of the South Korean ferry Sewol in April 2014 may have filled many people with horror concerning the tragedy itself and the appalling loss of life, especially of young people, but the subsequent emergence of several accounts may suggest that this tragic accident is the result of a series of dubious and questionable practices which may have be plaguing the shipping industry for some time without any form of auditing or accountability, namely the incorrect loading of cargo or even overloading. These practices relate not so much to passenger safety but cargo safety, an area which has long been the focus of attention owing to a lack of control and a failure to provide adequate globally-recognised checks or balances in terms of cargo loading and stowage.