International transportation knowledge---container transportation

First of all, we should divide cargo transportation intotwo parts. FCL(Full Container Load) and LCL(less than container load), This article mainly describes container transportation, also known as FCL.

 

Container type

The types of containers used in international transportation include the following:

Dry Cargo Container: Also known as a general cargo container, it is a general-purpose container used to carry general groceries except liquid cargo, cargo that requires temperature adjustment and special cargo.

Open Top Container: Also known as an open-top container, it is a container without a rigid roof, but has a roof made of canvas, plastic sheeting or plastic-coated cloth supported by foldable roof beams, and other components Similar to cargo containers. Suitable for loading taller large cargoes and heavy cargoes that need to be hoisted.

Platform Based Container (Platform Based Container): Platform Based Container is a container that has no roof and side walls, and some even have the end walls removed and only has a bottom plate and four corner posts. A platform container is a container with only a floor and no upper structure.

Reefer Container: A container specially designed for transporting frozen goods or low-temperature goods that require a certain temperature.

Bulk Container: A container specially designed for transporting bulk goods, suitable for loading bulk goods such as grain and feed.

Pen Container: This is a container specially designed for shipping livestock.

Tank Container: A container designed for transporting liquid cargo, such as oil, wine, chemicals, etc.

 

The above are several common container types in international transportation. Each type has its specific usage scenarios and characteristics to meet the transportation needs of different goods.

 

 

Dimensions of containers in international transport

 

There are different sizes of containers in international transportation, the most common ones are 20-foot containers, 40-foot containers and 40-high containers. The specific dimensions are as follows:

 

20-foot container: The outer dimensions are 20 feet x 8 feet x 8 feet 6 inches, referred to as a 20-foot container, and the inner diameter is 5898mm x 2352mm x 2390mm.

40-foot container: The outer dimensions are 40 feet x 8 feet x 8 feet 6 inches, referred to as 40-foot container, and the inner diameter is 12024mm × 2352mm × 2390mm.

40-foot highcontainer: The outer dimensions are 40 feet x 8 feet x 9 feet 6 inches, referred to as 40-foot high cabinet, and the inner diameter is 12024mm × 2352mm × 2685mm.

 

In addition, there are containers of different specifications such as45-foot high containers, 20-foot open-top containers, 40-foot open-top containers, 20-foot flat-bottom containers, and 40-foot flat-bottom containers.

 

Containers of these specifications are also different in terms of gross weight, volume and size. The appropriate specifications can be selected according to actual needs.

 

Detailed information on common container sizes, distribution gross weights, volumes and dimensions commonly used in international transportation:

 

The following are details of common container sizes, pallet weights, volumes and dimensions commonly used in international shipping:

 

20 feet general cabinet (20GP):

Dimensions: 20 feet long, 8 feet 6 inches high, approximately 6.096 meters long, 2.6 meters high, 2.35 meters wide.

Gross weight of distribution: generally not allowed to exceed 21 tons.

Volume (cubic meters): approximately 33.1 cubic meters, installed volume: 28 cubic meters.

 

40 feet general cabinet (40GP):

Dimensions: 40 feet long, 8 feet 6 inches high, approximately 12.192 meters long, 2.6 meters high, 2.35 meters wide.

Gross weight of distribution: generally not allowed to exceed 24.5 tons.

Volume (cubic meters): approximately 67.5 cubic meters, installed volume: 58 cubic meters.

 

40-foot high cabinet (40HC):

Dimensions: 40 feet long, 9 feet 6 inches high, approximately 12.192 meters long, 2.9 meters high, 2.35 meters wide.

Gross weight of distribution: generally not allowed to exceed 22 tons.

Volume (cubic meters): approximately 76.2 cubic meters, installed volume: 68 cubic meters.

 

45-foot high cabinet (45HC):

Dimensions: 45 feet long, 9 feet 6 inches high, approximately 13.716 meters long, 2.9 meters high, 2.35 meters wide.

Gross weight of distribution: generally 29 tons.

Volume (cubic meters): about 86 cubic meters, installed volume: 78 cubic meters.

 

This information is for reference only, it is recommended to consult the international freight company for more accurate information.

Benefits of container shipping

The benefits of container transportation mainly include the following aspects:

 

Simplifying freight operation procedures: As the transportation unit of goods, containers can simplify tedious operations, improve loading and unloading efficiency, reduce cargo damage and cargo differences, and reduce transportation costs.

 

Save packaging materials and costs: Container transportation can simplify or eliminate transportation packaging, thereby saving packaging materials and costs and reducing the cost of goods.

 

Improve transportation efficiency: The loading and unloading of containers is suitable for mechanization, which can greatly improve the loading and unloading efficiency, shorten the residence time of containers at the station (port), and speed up the turnover of vehicles and ships and the delivery of goods.

 

Ensure the quality of cargo transportation: Container transportation can reduce the number of manual loading, unloading, and handling in traditional transportation methods, avoid freight accidents such as cargo damage, wet damage, and loss caused by human and natural factors, and reduce economic losses.

 

Reduce operating expenses: Container transportation can reduce cargo damage and cargo differences, and cargo insurance premiums will also decrease; after carrying out "door-to-door" transportation business, it can save a lot of warehouse construction costs and warehouse operation costs.

 

High flexibility: Containers can be used to transport a variety of goods such as commodities (coal, wheat), manufactured goods, automobiles and refrigerated (perishable) goods. There are containers suitable for dry cargo, liquid (petroleum and chemical products) and refrigerated cargo.

 

Promote automated management: Container shipping is a standardized cargo transportation unit, which creates convenient conditions for automated management.

 

Reduced costs: Container shipping offers lower transportation costs due to the advantages of standardization.

 

Fast: The container shipping network is well connected and offers a wide range of shipping options. Container ships are also faster than regular cargo ships and provide frequent port calls so that speed remains constant.

 

Security and Safety: The contents of the container are unknown to the carrier as it can only be opened at the point of origin (seller/shipper), customs and destination (buyer). This means less spoilage and losses (theft).

 

In short, container transportation has many advantages, which can improve transportation efficiency, reduce costs, ensure the quality of cargo transportation, promote automated management, etc.

 

 

The world's top ten international shipping companies include:

 

Maersk: Founded in 1928, it is the largest subsidiary of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group and the largest container shipping company in the world.

 

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC): Founded in 1970, MSC and Maersk formed the world's largest container alliance called the 2M Alliance.

 

France's CMA CGM: Founded in 1978, CMA CGM is the world's third largest container shipping company. Its name comes from Compagnie Maritime d'Affretement (CMA) and Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM).

 

COSCO Shipping Lines (COSCO): Founded in 1961, it has become the fourth largest shipping company in the world, operating 54 domestic routes and 264 international routes in 329 ports in 105 countries around the world.

 

Hapag-Lloyd: Founded in 1970, today, Hapag-Lloyd is Germany's largest shipping company and ranks fifth in the world.

 

ONE (Ocean Network Express): Founded in 2017, it was formed by the integration of three major shipping companies: K Line, MOL and NYK. It became the sixth largest container shipping company in the world in less than three years.

 

Evergreen: Founded in 1968, Evergreen Marine Corporation, Hatsu and Italia Marittima merged into a single "Evergreen Line" in 2007.

 

HMM (Modern Merchant Marine): Founded in 1976, it is now the eighth largest shipping company in the world, operating services in 110 countries, with 24 subsidiaries and 3 container terminals around the world.

 

Yang Ming Shipping (YANGMING): Founded in 1972, the ninth-ranked Yang Ming Shipping Company formed THE Alliance together with Hapag-Lloyd, ONE and HMM.

 

WANHAI: Founded in 1965, it was originally a log transportation company between Taiwan, Japan and Southeast Asia. However, in order to meet the needs of international trade in containers, it became a full container transportation company in 1976.

 

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