Containers

Shipping Containers are by their very nature “Standard”. The design is regulated by ISO (International Standards Organisation). Containers “standardised” carriage of freight, starting from the 1950's and really taking hold in the 1960’s, not least because of the Vietnam war.

But like almost everything that is standard, there are variations.

Container sizes are usually defined by the length (external dimensions) e.g. 20ft or 40ft. The second variant is the height, most commonly 8ft 6ins but with 9ft 6ins becoming more common. The width is generally 8ft but can also be 2.5m. Mixing of measurements between imperial feet and inches and metric is common when discussing containers.

Weight capacities are also standard but with some variations.

The information here is intended to give guidance which will help when considering one of the almost infinite applications for a standard shipping container.

Malcolm McLean "the father of containersization", from the USA invented and patented the first shipping container in 1956. Owner of the largest trucking company at the time, he aimed to increase efficiency and load time by implementing a standard loading system from truck to warehouse. After Malcolm purchased new company Pan Atlantic Tanker Company, he experimented with various sizes and materials until settling on what we now know as a standard shipping container in 1956.

• Standard Containers
• High Cube Containers
• Side Opening Containers
• Refrigerated Containers
• Insulated Containers
• Open Top Containers
• Flat Rack Containers