Shipping containers give an abundant delivery options. Let’s consider the features of containers.

• These containers are not usually internally lined.
• Fork-lift pockets are generally available for help in moving the container.
• Floors are usually made up of either marine grade plywood sheets or longitudinal hardwood planks.

The containers come in two major varieties: storage use and shipping use only. Storage containers, which are second-hand, cannot be utilised for shipping. On other hand, shipping containers are as new, and totally comply with ISO and CSC regulations. Of course, they can also be used for storage purposes also, if required.

You can check about new as well as second-hand containers fore rent/hire/buy purpose. Containers are usually supplied either in the original colour or can be repainted to your specifications. The idea is to customise them. Several domestic customers also get their containers repainted for minimising the harmful environmental impact, if any, and blend into their surroundings to the best extent possible.

All marine freight containers are so designed that they sit on the four square castings perfectly and precisely - in each corner. It is highly recommended that containers are seated on hard standing ideally, where possible. Concrete bases are recommended to be installed at each corner location for soft ground usage.

Alternatively each end can be placed on an 8′ railway sleeper or similar sturdy support. It’s vital to ensure the container sits level opposite - corner to corner - to prevent the frame twisting, when positioning. This can make the doors difficult to open and shut.

Once you leave the job to us, you can be rest assured of quality and efficiency thanks to our delivering vehicles operators who are highly experienced and skilled at positioning containers precisely.

What makes containers a perfect transportation tool is their immense versatility that lies in their diverse usage. A container can conveniently be converted for including not only changing rooms and mess rooms but also fully fitted offices, laboratories and full-fledged workshops, just to name a few. Isn’t that amazing?

Just to convince you, we have incorporated in our website some exclusive photos of some elaborate conversions undertaken within our own facilities. In addition to this, there are some high specification modifications, which we’ve undertaken in recent times for many of our esteemed customers. You can get an idea of the jobs done by going through the relevant web pages that display the images of a refrigerated container at 43′ in length - fitted with a checker plate flat stainless steel floor, lights, and a side inspection hatch. You will realise that the container is fitted in a secured manner with a brand new diesel/electric refrigeration machine. It can be run without any connection to an external power supply.

You can also take a look at some liquid tank containers - converted for fuel oil storage – to be used within the arctic circle. They were fully insulated for protecting the contents from freezing at extremely low temperatures. As you probably realise, it helps to approach an experienced container specialist for your requirements. Thankfully, you have come to the right resource of storage container hire or sale.

Containers offer complete safety and security of the goods in transit. Dry storage containers made from high quality steel are impenetrable and totally safe.
What makes containers foolproof?

• Containers come with an extensive range of locking devices, which make them totally secure.
• There is also a wide array of security seals available to check if an effort has been made to or disturb the load or damage the container.
• Containers provide high levels of protection from weather fluctuations and any unfavourable environmental conditions.
• An optional steel lock protection box, if required, can be fitted to the doors for improved and increased security.

Dry containers, as the name suggests, are used for a wide range of goods and products, which need dry conditions. They are perfect for storing and carrying general products. Supplied in a clean, weatherproof condition, their doors – as mentioned above - are lockable. They can also be used for international shipment. Before you confirm your purchase, check whether the containers comply with full ISO / CSC regulations.

However, you need not harbour any doubts about the safety and security of your precious products since you have come to the right place for your sales/hire requirements of any type of container to suit your needs.

The early 20th century witnessed the adoption of closed type container boxes designed for movement between rail and road. Railroads on several continents by the 1830s were already carrying containers, which could be transferred to ships or trucks. These early containers were far smaller by today’s standards.

The Chicago Great Western Railway & then the New Haven Railroad started a ‘piggy-back’ service (transportation of highway freight trailers on flatcars) in the mid-1930s. It was restricted to their own railroads. By 1953, the Chicago and Eastern Illinois, the CB&Q, and the Southern Pacific railroads had become part of the container industry innovation.

Once the U.S. Dept. of Defense chose to standardise an 8′x8′ cross section container in multiples of 10′ lengths for military usage, it was rather rapidly adopted for shipping purposes. These standards were adopted in the UK for containers and soon displaced the older wooden containers in the 1950s.

The first vessels purpose-built for carrying containers started operation in Denmark in 1951. Ships started carrying containers between Alaska and Seattle in 1951.

The global standardisation of containers as well as container handling equipment was one of the most significant innovations witnessed in the 20th century logistics.

Originally utilised for shipping coal on & off barges, ‘loose boxes’ were employed to containerise coal from the late 1780s, on places, such as the Bridgewater Canal. Iron as well as wooden boxes became prevalent by the 1840’s.

In the UK, many railway firms were making use of similar containers by the beginning of the 20th century. The Railway Clearing House in the 1920s standardised the RCH container. Five or ten foot long, wooden and non-stackable, these early standard containers received a great response and success, but the standard remained UK-specific.

From 1926 to around 1947, the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railway in the US carried motor carrier vehicles & shippers’ vehicles loaded on flatcars between Wisconsin, Milwaukee & Chicago, Illinois. In 1929, Seatrain Lines started carrying railroad boxcars on its sea vessels for transporting goods between New York & Cuba.

Broadly the history of containers, as we know and use them today, can be classified into three major phases

• Phase 1: Invention and development of containers in the US in the 1950s
• Phase 2:the containerisation of global trade that effectively occurred in the 1970s
• Phase 3: The growth in scale of container usage with gradual globalisation as well as the export-oriented industrialisation of developed/developing countries in the 1990s & beyond.

The idea of some kind of ‘inter-modal’ transport system - so that a transport unit could be utilised for carrying goods on various forms of carrier – can be said to have emerged from the US railroads. This was in the 1950s, as mentioned above.

Motor vehicles had been carried in the Midwest of the USA on flatcars. More regularly and increasingly these flatcar services were utilised to ‘piggy-back’ freight trailers on railways. This trend occurred during the same period as some shipping lines were engaged in experimentation with containers, such as the ones moving between Seattle & Alaska.
In 1956, Malcolm McLean happened to sail a ship from Newark to Houston - with over 50 containers. This was on a converted tanker ship. The idea of goods - moving from one form of transport to another one - without the container being opened was indeed novel. It quickly caught on and soon revolutionised world trade.

While purchasing a second-hand or new container, you need to keep in mind quite a few things. You need to evaluate and consider following aspects:

• Colour: Is colour an important consideration to you? The answer maybe both yes and no! You may get it coated later, and in that case, colour won’t be such as an issue. A credible container vendor will be able to spray your chosen container with the colour you want. Alternatively, you can get a dark shade-finish container.
• Quality: It’s very important to see how damaged or dented is the container (if second-hand), which you are planning to buy. You can take stock of the container damage by carefully examining the unit. Do not forget to survey the roof as well. It can catch your unawares later, as you could discover rust patches as well as dents, which are less apparent or visible from inside.
• Doors: You should inspect the doors with care. Look for rust and also check that the locking bars functions well.
• Storage versatility and capability: You may prefer to specify a new or not-so-old container, whether you’re leasing or buying, if the goods you plan to store are sensitive.

Refrigerated Containers are necessary for transporting perishable and temperature sensitive produces and goods.
You have arrived at the right place if you are looking for ‘climate controlled’ refrigerated containers. We understand your anxiety regarding safe transportation of your precious natural and perishable products. Hence, we have made provision to accommodate every kind of food, floral, pharmaceutical produce etc. by designing refrigerated containers that retain the freshness of temperature sensitive items.

Refrigerated Containers are necessary to transport products – from chill controlled semi-perishables to deep frozen - like Fruit and vegetables, Fish Produce; Meats; Bakery products; Airline meals; Chilled foods; Ice-cream; Juice Concentrates; Pharmaceutical products; Frozen food; Dairy products; Genetically modified foods; Toiletries; Food concentrates; Vitamin & minerals produce; Wine, etc.

These containers are so constructed that they can ensure safety of products in need of acute temperature control. They include a fully integral refrigeration machine, which is well capable of holding internal temperatures ranging from +25 to -25 degrees centigrade, as required.

Shipping containers are broadly made in two standard lengths –20ft and 40ft. The width of shipping containers is generally maintained at 8ft (external measurement) whereas their height is about 8ft 6in (giving an internal height of roughly 8ft). Exceptionally, you may go for (buy or lease purpose) a ‘high cube’ container that is extra 1ft high, thus giving an internal height of about 9ft.

For the 20ft container, the metric measurements are usually 6.1m long x 2.4m wide x 2.59m high. This gives a capacity of roughly 39 cubic metres. For site storage these (containers) are often halved; the size being about roughly 10ft long or often even smaller units (lengths of 5ft or 6ft). The smaller containers are more convenient to store as well as transport.

Most specifications, you would notice, are in imperial measures. This is so since the world shipping industry specifications were set before metrification became a norm and remained so. References to TEU indicate ‘20ft equivalent units’ so that any 40ft container equates 2 TEU etc. This term is often used to denote the actual capacity of a port or a container ship.

The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners announced a hike in container fees on March 18. Shippers are just awaiting a verdict on when & by how much the hike will be. Projected as a ‘green’ measure, the hike is apparently aimed at raising funds for pollution reduction projects initiatives as well as improving infrastructure.

‘The Maritime Air Quality Policy’ statement was unanimously passed by appointed commissioners. Shippers urged them to resist a strategy, which they characterised as misguided. “Shippers have shown willingness to pay a fair share of the cost of improving infrastructure and air quality in the ports,” stated senior vice president, govt. relations for the National Retail Federation (NRF) Steve Pfister. He added: “We cannot support proposals, which would be illegal, unfair, & ultimately ineffective.”

Released exactly a year ago, the plan was jointly prepared by the American Association of Railroads, NRF, the Waterfront Coalition, the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association and other groups that are involved in the cargo shipment through California ports. “While the fees address just California ports, they’re of interest to retailers nationwide since those ports act as the gateway for the majority of merchandise - imported from Asia,” stated Pfister.