Things You Didn't Know About Container Shipping

Many options are available, whether you're looking for the best way to ship your vehicle or large piece of furniture from one location to another globally.

Most people will opt for the most cost-effective option that they can find, which usually means choosing between trucking and rail transport. However, if you want the best service possible, you should consider container shipping.

Here at A1 Auto Transport, we put together this guide to give you an insight into things you may not have known about container shipping and why it's a go-to choice for various brands and organizations.

The Inventors of Shipping Containers

By the end of the 19th century, steel was the top choice material instead of wood for building ships. Steel was much more robust and lighter than wood, making it ideal for large vessels.

But steel needed protection against corrosion, so engineers developed a method of encasing steel in layers of protective paint and varnish. This process became known as "painting." Painting proved to be very effective at protecting steel from rusting.

However, it wasn't perfect. As the paint dried, air bubbles formed inside the metal. These air pockets could cause problems during loading and unloading.

To solve this problem, engineers invented a way to seal the seams where the steel panels met. They did this by gluing together the edges of each panel with adhesive tape. At the same time, engineers were looking for ways to improve the efficiency of transporting goods.

One of the most known ways to transport goods today is "containerization," pioneered by Malcolm McLean. It involves building boxes out of flat sheets of corrugated cardboard. Corrugated cardboard is strong enough to hold heavy loads and is easy to stack.

Today, we use about 20 million shipping containers every day around the world. And while many people know what a shipping container looks like, few realize how important these containers are to our everyday lives, from online Amazon deliveries to your weekly grocery shop.

Where Shipping Containers Are Made

Shipping containers are primarily manufactured in Asia. Most are built in China. According to the Container Store, the United States imports about $1 billion of shipping containers annually. But there are some exceptions. For example, Canada exports about $2 billion worth of shipping containers each year. And Australia exports about $6 billion worth of shipping containers annually.

How Big Can Shipping Containers Be?

They can come in various dimensions and sizes, depending on what you're looking for to transport your items. In 1992, a shipping container fell overboard, with over 28,000 rubber duck bath toys lost at sea.

Unfortunately, the rubber ducks didn't make their destination, journeying from Hong Kong to the US. The container was approximately 40 feet, and even after twenty years, reports say some rubber ducks still float across the water.

Regarding a cargo ship, one can hold up to 15,000 containers. These ships usually dock near major ports worldwide, like New York City, London, Los Angeles, and Singapore.

Most shipping containers contain clothing, electronics, food, and household items. Some even include refrigerators and freezers.

What Else Are Shipping Containers Used For?

Container shipping is the backbone of global trade, transporting everything from food, clothing, refrigerators, and electronics. Steel is used to build the world's largest vessels to help transport heavier items. It's a sturdy material that is highly durable and perfect for long-haul journeys overseas.

Due to changes in the world, like the pandemic and market prices increasing. There has been a surge in demand for smaller vessels such as ferries and cruise ships to transport goods. Shipping costs are growing, so we noticed more standard shipping containers are being used for other purposes. These include:

Accommodation

Steel and other container material are perfect for creating homes, from new build housing to hotels and apartments.

Currently, there are more than 3 million container homes in circulation worldwide. However, you might be looking for a more cost-effective alternative to your living space, or you want to extend your property by using a shipping container.

Office spaces

In addition to homes, industries are finding ways to expand their businesses and transition employees into new offices. Again, it promotes a more sustainable way of working.

Hospitals

It's quicker to use recycled shipping containers and set it up a medical center or hospital than it would be to create a new building from the ground up. So again, it's a great way to reuse materials and find a new life for these containers.

Different Types of Containers: ISO Tanks

ISO or (International Standards Organization). These tanks are designed to transport hazardous liquids such as gasoline or chemicals and are typically made of steel or polycarbonate plastic.

They can hold around 20 cubic meters of liquid, which is enough to fill a standard swimming pool. Other container types include CFR for non-permanent storage and LPGA for short-term transportation.

If you'd like to know more, at A1 Auto Transport, we highlighted these container options in more detail for you to discover.

Are They Unsinkable?

Although container shipments are made of durable materials and have excellent door-lock systems, they aren't totally unsinkable. In addition, there are not entirely water or airtight, so if there was an incident where a container ship sank, the products in transit might not survive the water damage.

For example, in February 2022, a cargo ship carrying supercars caught fire, resulting in the crew abandoning the vessel and the cargo ship sinking.

Unfortunately, over 4,000 cars were damaged by this incident. This encouraged companies to start thinking about improving safety procedures for future transportation.

Final Thoughts

At A1 Auto Transport, we want you to have peace of mind that we will transport your items like your vehicle safely and efficiently.

So if you're considering using our shipping containers worldwide and have reservations about what happens next, don't worry. With over 2 million delivered services, we're the best option to get your items directly transported as streamlined as possible.