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In the first part of this three-part miniseries about shipping containers, we took a trip down memory lane, talking about the history of shipping containers. In the second part, we described the most used types of shipping containers and their typical use. In today’s, last part we will also focus on the use of containers, however, this time, we will take it from the other end - we will have a look at the most unique uses of intermodal containers.

Although there are no official statistics, it is estimated that there are more than 14 million discarded containers and more are added each day. While the metal parts of the containers are designed to last more than 30 years, the reason why carriers discard containers is the plywood floor. That has to be in perfect condition for the carrier because they need to drive a forklift on it. However, the floor in slightly used condition does not prevent people from building various products from it. Not everyone needs to drive a multiton forklift on it.

In the past, the goods used to be shipped in the form of breakbulk. Simply put, people literally threw bags with potatoes, barrels of wine, or wooden boxes of various dimensions with guns onto a horse-drawn carriage or later onto a truck. Then they drove to the nearest train station, where they had to unload the load and load it into a railway wagon. After that, the train transported the goods to the nearest port, where the goods had to be reloaded onto a ship. After arriving at the destination port, the whole process was repeated in reverse order.

This system had a lot of downsides. Reloading unstandardized cargos of many dimensions was time and personnel consuming, carrying capacity (especially of the vessels) were far from being optimally utilized, the cargo was not sufficiently secured, which posed a high risk of loss or damage to the cargo, especially during sea storms. The risk of damage was all the greater because the goods were not sufficiently protected. The system also made work easier for thieves.

Loading a container seems like a relatively easy task. However, once you realize how many legal and safety issues there are to be followed, things get a little complicated.

First of all, you need to meet all the legal and safety requirements. Trucks have a maximum permissible load, which can’t be exceeded. And not only are there maximum loads for trucks as a whole but also each axle has its own maximum axle load. Even the weight difference between the left and the right side of the axle can´t differ much to preserve optimal driveability. In case you don’t meet the legal requirements, you’re at risk of a substantial fine.

The trend in sea freight is very obvious - the pressure on prices and increasing competition forces carriers to build bigger and bigger cargo ships in order to utilize the economy of scale. And not only that. Also, new ecological regulations support this kind of behaviour as the bigger the container ships are, the less fuel consumption and CO2 production per TEU (twenty-foot-container equivalent unit) there tends to be.

Therefore basically each year there’s a new biggest container ship. However, as of today, the biggest container ship in the world is MSC Gülsün with its whopping 23 756 TEUs in rows of 24 across. Just to give you an idea, according to MSC Gülsün’s proud owner, Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the ship is able to transport 8.35 million microwave ovens or 47 512 cars. You would need 1358 Boeing 747s or 14072 heavy trucks in order to move the same amount of cargo.