The “free trade” thing does not work(**) without dirt cheap high seas transportation(##) that, by international agreement, has “practically” the lowest “environmental emissions standards” on the planet.
** The low cost of production of goods from “over there.”
## Huge ships built to barely survive stable seas, with one main engine, and a “direct shaft assembly” with no gearbox between engine and prop - super glorified but helpless barges.
I wouldn't go THAT far. If true, we'd be losing these fairly often in rougher seas. How many ≥ 100kt displacement ships have been lost thusly in the last 10 years? Any?
In G-Captain's article on major container ships lost since 2000, there are only two that catastrophically failed in (and presumably due to) heavy seas, and only one close to 100kt: The MOL Comfort, in 2013.
https://gcaptain.com/the-worst-containership-disasters-in-recent-history-in-photos/
Following MOL Comfort's breakup and sinking, tougher construction guidelines were adopted :
https://gcaptain.com/new-rules-to-enhance-safety-of-large-containerships/
Now, it IS true these ships avoid going around South Africa in storm season, but that's hardly unique to large cargo vessels.
It is also true that cheap shipping allows more trade. Trade volume has almost always pushed to the limits of practicality. It seems to literally be a function of being humans.