5 Fascinating Facts About Shipping Containers

International transportation of goods dates back to the 1600s. Since then, a host of challenges in international shipping have been addressed to meet the necessities as and when required. This continuous innovation led to modern-day maritime transportation which has found ways and means to move beyond the basics and keep up with the pace of development in other sectors. Shipping containers are one such innovation that has revolutionized how goods are transported across the globe.

From their invention to now booking containers online and tracking containers online, let us take a look at some fascinating facts about shipping containers.

1. What led to the innovation of standard-size shipping containers?
   ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’. Back in the day goods were shipped in wooden crates, drums, and pallets, but they were not damage-proof or theft proof, whereas multi-modal transport required manual shifting of all the goods to the next mode of transport making them susceptible to damage and theft. To tackle these challenges Malcolm McLean invented shipping containers in 1952.

2. When did present-day shipping containers come into existence?
   The first ISO 668 for shipping containers came into existence in 1968. Today the same dimensions are used across the globe. There are seven sizes of shipping containers ranging from 8ft to 53ft in length. These variations allow for appropriate freight booking and save thousands of dollars in unnecessary packaging and transportation costs.

3. Why have shipping containers become an indispensable part of transportation?
   They are made up of metal and allow for safe and secure packing, carrying, and storage of goods. They are durable and last 20-30 years depending on the use, wear and tear. Apart from online container booking, one can also keep tracking containers online. Shipping containers come with facilities that keep the original condition of the goods intact till the final destination and for this, there are many types of containers. Multi-modal transportation is easier because of shipping containers.

4. What has technology changed for shipping containers?
   Container shipping bookings were earlier done manually through freight forwarders or by visiting the carrier's office. Technological development in logistics booking has facilitated container booking and tracking online from anywhere. Online container booking is much faster and cheaper than traditional ways of booking. Whereas end-to-end container tracking online has given further insight into the exact location of a shipment contributing to better planning and management of the supply chain. Both booking and tracking were possible earlier as well, but manual procedures take up time whereas online procedures and the use of GPS make it easy and quick.

5. What happens to shipping containers after being out of use at ports?
   ISO standard containers go beyond the use in ports. The steel body allows easy cutting other than the USP of shipping containers, i.e. being stackable. This allows for easy transformation into architectural structures for human housing and storage of goods.

It is fascinating to see revolutionary changes in the logistics and freight forwarding industry. Today, advancements in technology have taken over the logistics industry and online booking for container shipping in India has become a hassle-free task. Moving with the changing times, online solutions have made shipping container tracking easier. Learning about these facts about shipping containers brings hope for further advancements in the shipping industry in the coming times.