Joanna James
Picking the right shipping container for your shipment may seem an overwhelming task on the outside with a lot of moving parts. Sure, it is no child’s play, but when you are well informed of the key elements that you need to look into, it wouldn’t be incorrect for one to describe it as quite simple.
A great place to start finding the right shipping container would be to focus on the container size as you will not only be looking for a container that best suits the size of your shipment, but other key factors, such as container condition and cost, which will also play roles concomitantly in making a choice. Shipping containers come in a few standard sizes including 10ft, 20ft, 30ft and 40ft, but 20ft and 40ft are the most popular sizes while others may be more challenging to source.
Once you’ve come to a decision on the container size, the next factor to consider would be the container type. Picking the type of shipping container has largely to do with the nature of your cargo and the intended job the container would be used for. You have a whole host of different types of containers to choose from, which are designed to serve different purposes including flat rack, open-top, tank, and tunnel shipping containers. However, all shipping containers can be fundamentally categorised as “standard” or “general-purpose” containers and “high cube” containers, where the latter is a foot taller than their standard counterparts.
When it comes to shipping containers, there is no such thing as a brand new container as all containers should make at least one trip across the ocean to get to a shipping terminal. That is why new containers are referred to as “one-trip” containers. Going for a new container over a used, wind and water-tight container or cargo-worthy container means you will have newer, much better doors and a whole lot less dings, dents and scratches, but also at a price several hundred dollars higher than a used container in moderate condition.
Now that you’ve decided on the container size, type, as well as the condition, you are just one step away from finding perfect shipping that best suits your requirement — the container spec. Shipping containers are of two specs — shipping and storage. As the names suggest, the former is for transporting goods and the latter is for storing goods, where these containers will typically be on the ground rather than on ships or the back of trucks.
Last but not least, partnering with a trusted, genuine and reputed supplier and South Asian container terminal the likes of South Asia Gateway Terminals, is paramount. No matter how much of an effort you put into finding the perfect shipping container, partnering with the right suppliers can make or break your shipping business.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
