Containerisation
| 2010 | | |
[Containerisation] | A Study of Container Shipping By Kieran Alcock |
Introduction
“Containerization (or containerisation) is a system of intermodal freight transport using standard intermodal containers as prescribed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These can be loaded and sealed intact onto container ships, railroad cars, planes, and trucks.”
The shipping container is one of the most significant inventions of the twentieth century. Along with the internet, it has revolutionised the global economy and the way we conduct business today. Consumers in Ireland are aware that the products they purchase on a daily basis come from all over the world. But few realise the effect that intermodal transportation, which is the seamless movement of containerised goods via sea, rail and road, has on the availability of our everyday items. Before containerisation, the movement of goods was a slow and inefficient process. Cargo ships could spend as much time in port being loaded as they did on the open seas reaching their destination and then as much time again being unloaded. This ruled out moving perishable goods as the time taken to reach their destination far exceeded their longevity. Today, the container ships are loaded and unloaded at state of the art facilities where thousands of containers are then transported by rail or road on to their destination to the consumer. The container has made transporting goods more cost effective and also increased the security of the goods being transported. The standardisation of container sizes, shapes and form has considerably lowered freight charges and costs. This uniformity means ships can be loaded and unloaded quickly and cargo ships spend less time in port meaning reduced transportation times. The container increased security of transporting goods. Firstly, the container hides the cargo from view and gives no indication of what is being transported. It is sealed
[Containerisation] | A Study of Container Shipping By Kieran Alcock |
Introduction
“Containerization (or containerisation) is a system of intermodal freight transport using standard intermodal containers as prescribed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These can be loaded and sealed intact onto container ships, railroad cars, planes, and trucks.”
The shipping container is one of the most significant inventions of the twentieth century. Along with the internet, it has revolutionised the global economy and the way we conduct business today. Consumers in Ireland are aware that the products they purchase on a daily basis come from all over the world. But few realise the effect that intermodal transportation, which is the seamless movement of containerised goods via sea, rail and road, has on the availability of our everyday items. Before containerisation, the movement of goods was a slow and inefficient process. Cargo ships could spend as much time in port being loaded as they did on the open seas reaching their destination and then as much time again being unloaded. This ruled out moving perishable goods as the time taken to reach their destination far exceeded their longevity. Today, the container ships are loaded and unloaded at state of the art facilities where thousands of containers are then transported by rail or road on to their destination to the consumer. The container has made transporting goods more cost effective and also increased the security of the goods being transported. The standardisation of container sizes, shapes and form has considerably lowered freight charges and costs. This uniformity means ships can be loaded and unloaded quickly and cargo ships spend less time in port meaning reduced transportation times. The container increased security of transporting goods. Firstly, the container hides the cargo from view and gives no indication of what is being transported. It is sealed