Container Identification System

The container identification system is an ISO standard (ISO 6346) composed of a sequence of letters and numbers. In the above photo, this identification is displayed on the top right part of the container: The operational characteristics of the container are also commonly displayed. They include the maximum gross weight,

Containerized Housing Units, Le Havre, France

Photo: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, 2010. Containers are increasingly used as an architectural design unit since they are prevalent in the modern landscape. The above housing units are entirely made of regular containers that have been stacked in a manner similar to a terminal. They are used as student housing units

Container Recycled as a Bus Shelter, South Africa

Photo: Dr. Grant Saff, 2006. Once a container has completed its useful life of about 12 years, often because it is damaged and judged to be no longer suitable to carry cargo, several outcomes are possible. The most common is the container to be scrapped and the materials recycled. On

Geared Reefer Containership entering the Zeebrugge Harbor

Photo: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, 2006. Refrigerated containers represent a growing share of the containerized traffic handling temperature-sensitive agricultural products and seafood. While a regular containership has several slots that can be used to house reefers (require electric power supply), there are also specialized containerships designed specifically to carry reefers. They

20-Foot Tank Containers

Photo: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, 2010. The transport of liquids such as chemicals or potable foodstuff (juices, oils) is a niche market that requires specialized containers. Tank containers only come in a dimension of 20 feet because of the higher weight to volume ratio liquids have. A 40-foot tank container would

Advantages and Challenges of Containerization

Even if containerization conveys numerous advantages to freight distribution, it does not come without challenges. The main advantages of containerization are: Standardization. The container is a standard transport product that can be handled anywhere in the world (ISO standard) through specialized modes (ships, trucks, barges, and wagons), equipment, and terminals.

Containerization Growth Factors

The growth of containerization mainly relies on four major factors: Derived. Often labeled as organic growth, an outcome of economic and income growth, leading to a growing quantity of freight in circulation. Additionally, globalization has relied on outsourcing and offshoring of complex and fragmented supply chains that implied growth in

World Container Throughput, 1980-2021

Source: adapted from Drewry Shipping Consultants and own elaboration. Until 2008, container throughput (container handled at ports, including the port of origin, destination, and transshipment) had an average annual compound growth of 10.5%. This surge is linked to several factors, such as the growth of international trade in addition to