Ocean containers are standardized large containers used to ship goods across the ocean. They can be easily stacked and packed, and come in various styles for different types of cargo. In a healthy economy, they move around the world, but in a slow economy, they can back up at ports.
Ocean containers are large containers used to ship goods across the ocean. Also known as cargo or shipping containers, ocean containers are the cornerstone of containerized shipping, a concept developed as early as the 1700s but refined in the 1960s. The vast majority of goods shipped around the world They spend some time in ocean containers, and anyone who has been to a port city or near a major rail line has seen ocean containers in one form or another.
These containers are made to standard dimensions around the world. Standardization of dimensions allows ocean containers to be easily stacked and packed. Container ships are actually specifically designed to carry a cargo of ocean containers, with a layout intended to keep the containers secure with a minimum of wasted space. Ocean containers can also be loaded onto rail flat wagons and truck trailers, allowing goods to arrive from the port to another location without opening the container.
There are various styles of ocean containers, ranging from the basic dry cargo container to the refrigerated shipping container, also known as a reefer. Tank trucks are available for liquids, and flatbed and flat frame designs are available for large and specialty loads, such as aircraft parts. Some shipping containers are collapsible, and all are designed to be reusable.
Products packed in an ocean container can vary widely. A container may be filled with one product, as in the case of an ocean container used to move rubber ducks or flat screen monitors, or the cargo within the container may be mixed. Some shipping companies sell space in split containers, allowing people who don’t have a full load of items to take advantage of the space in a shipping container. The container can be marked with a barcode allowing the shipper to track it, and the products inside can also be tagged with RFID for tracking.
In a healthy economy, shipping containers move around the world, rarely spending too much time in one place. Products that a company ships to a country in an ocean container will be recalled, and the container will be repackaged and shipped elsewhere. However, when the economy is slow, shipping containers can start to back up at major shipping ports and yards. Unequal trade relationships can also result in a surplus or shortage of shipping containers.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
