Crisis and Shipping Containers
Shipping containers are the backbone of global trade and ensure that almost every product we use today can be transported cheaply and efficiently across continents. Standardization in the form of containerization has reduced logistics costs, accelerated deliveries, and increased the safety of shipped goods.
In recent years this system has faced an unprecedented crisis, referred to as the shipping container crisis. The situation is characterized by extreme volatility in freight rates, a severe shortage of empty containers in export regions (e.g., Asia, especially China) and, conversely, a surplus in import regions (Europe, North America). This paradox results from several concurrent factors:
- COVID‑19 pandemic: Caused a global disruption of supply chains. Some ports and factories were forced to halt operations, leading to containers piling up in idle yards while export regions experienced an acute shortage.
- Dramatic demand shifts: Lockdowns led consumers to focus more on purchasing goods (electronics, home appliances), causing a sudden surge in exports from Asia.
- Geopolitical events: For example, the blockage of the Suez Canal by the Ever Given and attacks in the Red Sea caused further delays and rerouting of ships, reducing available capacity.
- Port congestion: Overload and labor shortages at ports slow loading and unloading, leading to further container blockage.
The result is increased unpredictability, delays, and a sharp rise in costs throughout the supply chain. For companies, this crisis meant significantly higher input costs and often jeopardized their ability to deliver goods to customers.
A
Automation and Shipping Containers
Definition:
Automation in container logistics means the use of technologies, robotic systems, and software for more efficient handling, management, and transport of containers in ports and warehouses.
Technological aspects and examples:
| Type of automation | Description and use |
|---|---|
| Automated STS cranes | Ship‑to‑shore cranes with automated control, increasing handling speed and precision. |
| AGV (Autonomous Guided Vehicle) | Self‑driving vehicles that transport containers within a terminal without human intervention. |
| Automated warehouses | Systems for automated storage and retrieval of containers according to carrier/customer needs. |
| Planning software | Advanced algorithms that optimize container movement and minimize empty trips. |
Benefits:
- Increases port throughput by up to dozens of percent.
- Reduces error rates and labor costs.
- Enables 24/7 operation, which is critical during crises.
- Improves workplace safety in terminals.
Challenges:
- Requires high upfront investment.
- Complex integration with existing IT systems and processes.
- Potential resistance from unions and employees.
Real example:
The port of Rotterdam, the largest in Europe, is a pioneer of automation; its terminals use robotic cranes and AGVs for faster container handling.
B
Blank Sailing
Definition:
Blank Sailing is a situation where a carrier cancels a scheduled sailing or skips a particular port on a route, creating a “blank” slot where the ship does not sail or calls at fewer ports.
Why Blank Sailings occur:
- Management of shipping capacity during periods of reduced demand.
- Efforts to restore regular vessel schedules after delays.
- Operational problems (e.g., limited staff, bad weather).
- Responses to extraordinary events (canal blockages, war, embargo).
Market impacts:
- Reduces available capacity, pushing freight rates higher.
- Increases uncertainty for importers and exporters who must find alternative solutions.
- Can cause chain‑wide delays throughout the supply network.
Technical detail:
Databases such as Sea‑Intelligence track the number of blank sailings on major world routes (e.g., Asia‑Europe, Transpacific), serving as an indicator of market tension.
C
C Can / Sea Can
Definition:
Informal term for a standard shipping container, common especially in Canada and the USA.
Technical characteristics:
- Conforms to ISO 668.
- Dimensions: 20′ × 8′ × 8′6″ (standard), 40′ × 8′ × 8′6″ (standard), 40′ × 8′ × 9′6″ (high cube).
- Material: Corten steel, highly corrosion‑resistant.
Expanded uses:
- Goods storage, construction cells, mobile offices.
- Basis for modular buildings, e.g., container houses.
- Secure storage for tools, machinery, materials.
CSC Plate (Container Safety Convention Plate)
Definition:
Mandatory safety plate required by the 1972 Container Safety Convention, attached to every container used for international transport.
Plate contents:
| Item | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer, year of manufacture | Identifies origin and age of the container |
| Maximum gross weight | Highest permitted weight including cargo |
| Maximum stacking weight | Maximum load when containers are stacked |
| Date of last safety inspection | Required periodic review (usually every 30 months) |
Importance:
- Without a valid CSC plate a container is not permitted for international transport.
- Regular reviews ensure cargo safety and eliminate damage risk.
H
High Cube (HC) Container
Definition:
A container that is 1 foot (30.5 cm) taller than the standard (height 9′6″ instead of 8′6″).
Advantages:
- Approximately 13 % larger volume (about 76 m³ for a 40′ HC vs. 67 m³ for a 40′ standard).
- Ideal for lightweight, bulky goods (textiles, mattresses, electronics).
- Enables cost optimisation for volume‑heavy shipments.
Technical detail:
| Container type | Length (mm) | Width (mm) | Height (mm) | Volume (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20′ Standard (GP) | 6 058 | 2 438 | 2 591 | 33 |
| 40′ Standard (GP) | 12 192 | 2 438 | 2 591 | 67 |
| 40′ High Cube (HC) | 12 192 | 2 438 | 2 896 | 76 |
During the crisis:
Demand for HC containers rose sharply because they allow more cargo on the same vessel, a crucial advantage when capacity is limited.
I
Intermodal Container
Definition:
Standardised transport unit designed for movement by multiple modes (ship, rail, truck) without unloading the cargo.
Standardisation according to ISO:
- ISO 668 – basic dimensions and construction.
- ISO 1496 – specifications for different container types (e.g., refrigerated, open top).
- Corner castings enable safe lifting, stacking, and securing.
Intermodal benefits:
- Cargo remains sealed from manufacturer to customer.
- Minimises loss, damage, and theft during transit.
- Maximises efficiency of the global supply chain.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
Definition:
Independent international body that sets standards for industry, including shipping containers.
Key container standards:
- ISO 668: Dimensions and payload.
- ISO 6346: Coding and identification (unique container number, e.g., MSKU1234567).
- ISO 1161: Specification of corner fittings for cranes and stacking.
Practical significance:
- Enables smooth container exchange among carriers and continents.
- Reduces logistics costs and improves maintainability.
K
Containerization
Definition:
The process of replacing traditional piece‑goods transport (boxes, barrels, bags) with shipment in standardised containers.
History:
- First container ship – Ideal X (1956, Malcolm McLean, USA).
- Rapid globalisation due to cost reduction and increased safety.
Key effects:
- Cost reduction: Up to 80 % saving in labor hours at ports.
- Faster vessel turnaround: From weeks (manual unloading) to hours (cranes + automation).
- Safety: Fewer damages and lower theft risk.
Impact on the world economy:
- Enabled the creation of global supply chains and massive e‑commerce expansion.
- Today up to 90 % of world trade moves in containers.
L
Shipping Container
Definition:
Reusable, robust steel unit for transport and storage of goods.
Technical parameters:
| Container type | External length (mm) | External width (mm) | External height (mm) | Internal volume (m³) | Empty weight (kg) | Max payload (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20′ Standard | 6 058 | 2 438 | 2 591 | 33 | 2 200 | 28 200 |
| 40′ Standard | 12 192 | 2 438 | 2 591 | 67 | 3 800 | 26 700 |
| 40′ High Cube | 12 192 | 2 438 | 2 896 | 76 | 4 200 | 26 600 |
Materials and construction:
- Corten steel (weather‑ and corrosion‑resistant).
- Options for insulation, refrigerated units (reefer), open roof, side doors.
Additional uses:
- Storage, construction cells, mobile offices, residential units.
N
International Shipping
Definition:
Maritime transport of goods on container ships.
Basic characteristics:
- Cheapest method for long‑distance transport.
- Carries up to 90 % of world freight volume.
- Main routes: Asia‑Europe, Transpacific, Transatlantic.
Crisis consequences:
- Freight rates (e.g., China to Europe) during the pandemic rose up to tenfold (from about USD 1 500 to over USD 15 000 for a 40′ container in 2021).
- Severe delivery delays (ships waiting weeks at ports).
- Impact of geopolitical events (Suez, Red Sea, sanctions).
P
Port Congestion
Definition:
Situation where a port cannot efficiently handle all arriving and departing vessels and containers.
Causes:
- Surge in cargo volume (especially during the pandemic).
- Labor shortages (quarantines, illness).
- Lack of handling equipment (tractors, chassis, warehouses).
- Infrastructure limits of older ports.
Consequences:
- Ships wait weeks to unload (e.g., Los Angeles, Rotterdam).
- Tied‑up capacity and containers, worsening shortages elsewhere.
- Delays across the entire logistics chain.
Solutions:
- Investment in automation, terminal expansion, better planning and digitalisation.
T
TEU (Twenty‑foot Equivalent Unit)
Definition:
Standardised unit representing the volume of one 20‑foot container.
Significance:
- Allows simple comparison of vessel, port, and transport capacities.
- 1 TEU = one 20‑foot container, 2 TEU = one 40‑foot container.
Capacities of the largest vessels (2024):
| Vessel | Capacity (TEU) |
|---|---|
| MSC Irina | 24 346 |
| OOCL Spain | 24 188 |
| HMM Algeciras | 23 964 |
Czech Republic, Olomouc 
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