We Celebrate 65 Years of the Shipping Container
Happy 65th to the Shipping Container!
Shipping containers are having a bit of a moment. Not only are clever designers and architects turning these maritime stalwarts into everything from artsy student accommodation and retail hot spots, to score boards and eco sanctuaries, but the invention itself is also turning 65 this year! Happy birthday container – you are officially of retirement age, but we have an inkling that there is plenty more work ahead of you…
Let’s back up a bit and go back to a time before containers. It was messy. See, before American shipowner and freight forwarder Malcom P. McLean had the bright idea to develop a standardised box in which goods could be shipped together, things were being prepared for shipment individually, which led to lots of wasted time and effort. It also made the goods themselves rather hard to organise, since it was all of different shapes and sizes.
Mechanical engineer Keith Tantlinger was the man who helped Mr Mclean turn his idea into a reality, and on April 26, 1956, a freight shipping container was sent out into the world for the first time onboard the SS Ideal X, a converted World War II oil tanker.
Since then, this frankly genius maritime invention has paved the way for the establishment of ISO standards while simultaneously enabling mass production, and easing the transportation and usage of standardised containers, which in turn lead to the standardisation of container terminals and handling equipment around the world.
In short, it made cargo operations more flexible, improved the handling time of cargo, facilitated door-to-door movement using a single unit (thereby improving security), and allowing for cheaper per-unit shipping so the savings can be passed on to the consumer.
DID YOU KNOW? Today’s giant container ships like the HMM Algeciras of the Korean shipping company Hyundai Merchant Marine are able to transport almost 24,000 containers at once. The 400-meter-long ship has a depth of more than 16 meters. Its size limits the ports it can call at.
There you have it – a short and sweet explanation of the tremendous impact the invention of the shipping container had on the global supply chain. Keep an eye on the blog in the coming months for more interesting stories and insights from the world of shipping, and updates on developing maritime tech.
In the meantime, feel free to get in touch with a member of the Link Ship Chandlers team if you would like to learn more about the 24/7/365 chandling support and services we provide from ports in Cape Town, Saldanha, Gqeberha, Coega, East London, Durban and Richards Bay.
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