MetaChat - Intermodal shipping containers question:

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29 February 2008

Intermodal shipping containers question: They're kind of nifty, eh? You'll see them on trains and on back of semis, and they travel across the ocean on ships. →[More:]

But I thought only 20' and 40' standard sizes went overseas as "ocean containers," as here. So what's up with these 53' ones? Do they not travel on ships?

T'ankoo.

post by: shane at: 14:14 | 7 comments

It seems that this was formerly a size used in US domestic traffic but this has recently been extended to international shipping.

SHIPPERS began using a new kind of cargo container this month that they believe will have a significant impact on international goods movement.

APL, a container transport subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines Ltd., recently unveiled the world's first 53-foot-long ocean cargo containers, which will be used to ship goods between China and the Port of Los Angeles.

There have been 53-foot containers used for ground transport, but they were not durable enough for oceangoing vessels. Previously, goods were shipped in 20-, 40- or 45-foot-long containers, some of which were then transloaded into the larger boxes.

posted by TheophileEscargot 29 February | 14:32

Apparently, only two shipping lines (APL, mentioned above, and Maersk, who my partner used to work for) use the 53-foot containers. Other companies stick with the standard 20, 40, and 45-foot boxes.

posted by BoringPostcards 29 February | 14:40

and an interesting side anecdote: when I worked in the logistics dept. of a small hardwood flooring company, we had to charge the client for the cost of the container in our shipments to certain countries. Why?

People would steal them to live in.

posted by lonefrontranger 29 February | 14:42

Those people were way ahead of the curve.

posted by box 29 February | 14:58

There's a whole old MeFi thread on living in shipping containers, if I remember right.

Cool stuff.

And that photo I linked to is art to me, LOL.

posted by shane 29 February | 15:11

lolcatty, but somewhat germane to the discussion (forgive me if it's been linked already).

posted by lonefrontranger 29 February | 16:48

Aha! More: Maybe not a "help the needy" bargain at $40,000, but cool:

≡ Click to see image ≡

The [shipping container] TrailerWarp trailer will be sold for $40,000 to the winner of a lottery (though only needy recipients can enter).

Why the hell didn't FIMA use ocean containers in the Katrina aftermath instead of poisoning people with formaldehyde fumes?

posted by shane 29 February | 17:50

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