Written by: Port Containers
There are anywhere from five to six million shipping crates in transit at any given point in time. At least one of those containers is bound to be lost at sea, never to be found again. These containers have unintended consequences for the environment, and they result in massive losses to the shipping industry. Here are some tips that will help improve the methods of transporting shipping containers.
Better Organization
It’s rare that an intermodal container is actually weighed before it can be shipped. Some simple oversight of weights and measurements would go a long way to securing freight for overseas shipping. In the future, shipping companies will use RFID technology to identify a shipping crate’s dimensions. This will greatly improve the organization of the ship so that containers are properly secured for the rough seas. Shifting seas are the biggest source of losses.
The problem is how containers are stacked. Much like a stock shelf, heavier containers are usually placed at the base of the stack to give it some stability. With no method of tracking weight, workers assemble the stack based on guess work.
Detailed Documentation
RFID will power another development in shipping, better documentation. We know that breaking the cold chain is one of the biggest sources of loss of perishable stock. We have also identified tracking as part of that issue. If containers were tracked with more certainty, manufacturers would have greater control over where and when their stock moves.
Right now, shipping companies do provide documentation, but their reach is limited. If there are handoffs that occur, it can be difficult for the manufacturer to keep track of. Each company may offer different documentation as well, leading to confusion of where stock is located.
Investigate the Shipping Company
Another issue is reliability of the shipping company. You should take the time to research each shipping company and make sure you’re dealing with professionals. Ask them about the technology they use to ship, and read reviews online. Companies like Angie’s List maintain useful databases of independent reviews.
Final Thoughts
Quality of container rarely plays a role in losses at sea. Used shipping containers for sale perform just as well as their new counterparts, even though some require a bit of restoration. Also be sure that you have adequate refrigeration for perishable items. Once you know what you’re shipping, and how many crates you’ll need, detailed records will help cut down on your losses.
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