Containerization is a system of intermodal freight transport using intermodal containers. The containers have standardized dimensions. They can be loaded and unloaded, stacked, transported efficiently over long distances, and transferred from one mode of transport to another like container ships, rail transport flatcars, and semi-trailer trucks, without being opened. The handling system is completely mechanized so that all handling is done with cranes and special forklift trucks. All containers are numbered and tracked using computerized systems.
When exporting goods overseas, there
are many different shipping methods to consider. It mainly depends on the
overall packing sizes, total cubic measurement or total weight of the goods to
be shipped. The most popular shipping method all over the world is the 20-foot
shipping container.
There are three main methods to shipping goods overseas
- By FCL cargo, Full Container Load
- By LCL cargo, Less Than Container Load
- By Breakbulk Shipping
Full Container Load shipping is used when
exporting a full container of products. These are shipped in
20-foot and 40-foot long enclosed shipping containers. The chart displays the
most popular shipping containers used and includes container measurements,
weights and door sizes for each. Dry Cargo containers are made in 20-foot and
40-foot lengths. The standard is a 20-foot, General Purpose container, a
20-foot GP. These containers can also be made as a High Cube container which have
an increased height to hold more cargo.
Refrigerated containers or reefers are
made in the same sizes as dry cargo containers. These refrigerated containers
are designed for the transportation of temperature-sensitive cargo. They allow
everything from meat, fruit, vegetables and dairy products to chemicals and
pharmaceuticals to travel across the world.
Open Top containers are also made in
20-foot and 40-foot lengths. They don't include a roof which allows the
transport of bulky or heavy cargo that either won't fit through normal
container doors or require a crane for efficient loading.
Flat Rack containers are unique
shipping containers that consists of only a flatbed and have either fixed or
collapsible ends on the container or no ends at all. They are designed to ship
products that won't fit into a general purpose or open top container. These
flat rack containers allow transport of oversized, out of gauge and odd-shaped
cargo.
LCL cargo is another form of shipping
method used when shipping smaller amounts of cargo. It will be used when the
overall size of the goods for export is not big enough to fill a 20-foot
container. When LCL shipping is used, the goods are still loaded inside 20-foot
and 40-foot shipping containers and they are transported exactly the same way. However,
the LCL cargo is loaded inside a shared shipping container along with other
parties' cargo to fill the container which is called a consolidated shipping
container. The freight cost is charged out depending on the overall product
size or weight. It will be charged out per cubic meter of cargo or per metric
ton in weight, whichever is greater.
Breakbulk Shipping is used to ship
oversized cargo that will not fit inside shipping containers. Any cargo that
exceeds length, width, height or weight restrictions can be shipped by
breakbulk cargo. The cargo is loaded on top of the deck of the vessel by crane.
Large machinery, boats and steel are examples of goods that are exported around
the world by breakbulk cargo.
Container
is the unit that documents all the goods that it contains, it can be shipped
quickly to its destination, as the information is detailed on the outside of
the container, which simplifies the customs formalities in particular. For both
the sender and the recipient, containerization also has a significant economic
advantage over other means of transporting goods.
Reference
https://www.transglobelogistiques.com/en/container-shipping-5-advantages-disadvantages/#:~:text=The%20Advantages%20of%20Container%20Shipping,the%20customs%20formalities%20in%20particular.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Containerization
https://incodocs.com/blog/shipping-methods-types-and-containers-explained/
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