China has debuted a new-sized container, albeit one that is unlikely to take to sea.
China Railway Group’s 50 foot containers will be used on the nation’s intermodal express trains.
By Splash estimates, there are now eight different length containers trading around the world – 10 ft, 20 ft, 30 ft, 40 ft, 45 ft, 48 ft, 50 ft and the largest coming in at 53 ft, which are used on North American railroads.
For ships, 20 ft and 40 ft containers are standard. No cellular ship can take more than 45 ft in length, and then only on deck in stows above the top of the lashing platforms.
The metal shipping container has not changed much since its invention in the 1950s, but new inventions are being marketed including Staxxon from the US whose folding shipping container comes with an accordion-style design, while in India Shallow Waterways Shipping has developed a hexagonal container intended to containerise bulk shipments.
Attendees of this year’s Sea Asia exhibition in Singapore were able to get a glimpse of the Unit One, a container made out of composite developed by Swiss firm AELER.
just incase, I’m very happy to write a guest article on why i feel the foldable shipping container is a total non-starter of a concept. (even found out recently its been tried a long time ago by MSC). Might be nice and fluffy for engagement on social media but i’d bet big money these won’t ever be widely adopted…
Good Platform to received Current shipping news
“No cellular ship can take more than 45 ft in length” This statement is not correct. 53ft containers loaded on ship from Asia to North America.
This is not accurate. Ships have carried 53’ ‘intermodal’ containers
Nice reading. Short but detailed. Very informative.