Ocean Shipping Container

What are Ocean Shipping Containers?

With its first official journey in April of 1956, the humble ocean shipping container is one of the most revolutionary inventions in the shipping industry. Essentially a large, standardized, heavy-duty, rectangular box, the shipping container is designed for freight and its sturdy, easy-to-load design provides a home for goods from the original port to their destination.

Since the invention of the original shipping container, variations in size and function have been developed to accommodate oversized, heavyweight, temperature-sensitive, and other specific cargo needs.

The ocean container is made out of steel with corrugated sides and floors of treated wood in order for cargo to be braced with nails. Weight must be distributed evenly within the container to avoid breaking through the bottom.

What are the different types of Ocean Shipping Containers?

Hardtop Container- Made specifically for heavy freight, these containers are manufactured with removable steel roofs in order to allow the packing process to be completed with cranes or other machinery.

Dimensions- L x W x H

Flat Racks - Designed for the transport of heavy, bulky, or oversized (OOG-Out of Gauge) cargo, these containers can be stacked on top of one another, allowing for more cargo space on a ship. Flat rack containers are made with a steel frame and no side walls. They have wooden floors and fixed/collapsible end walls, which can fold flush with the base.

Dimensions- L x W x H

Platform Container- These containers are built to carry extremely heavy and oversized loads. They’re made of a steel frame, wooden floors and no end walls.

Dimensions- L x W x H

Open Top Container- These standard containers are used to transport overweight cargo. Instead of a rigid roof, these containers have a flexible tarpaulin top which can be removed to ease loading. The end walls of these containers are also flexible and can be easily adjusted. They also feature roof bows to help stabilize the container during loading and transport.

Reefer Container- These are refrigerated containers, featuring thermal, insulated units with compressors to heat and cool their contents. Most of these containers have adjustable ventilation for better airflow. They’re used for temperature-sensitive, perishable goods.