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Types of ocean freight containers

3
Jan
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Containers are a basic instrument, without which logistics would make no sense, particularly in the case of ocean transport. After all, it is estimated that more than 20 million containers worldwide are on the move at any single time.

Choosing the container for an ocean shipment is a decision that mustn’t be made lightly, given the wide range of options available for ocean freight. The main reason for choosing one container instead of another is the kind of freight you want to transport.

Dry Van shipping containers

Dry Van containers are aluminium or steel containers recommended for general or dry freight. They are therefore the most widely-used and versatile option. They have a very strong structure and can be stacked up to 8 high.

They are watertight and only have doors on one side. Their dimensions are standard, with a width of 2.40m and a height of 2.60m. As far as length is concerned, the most popular are those measuring 20 and 40 feet, or 6 and 12 metres.

Reefer tank shipping containers

Refrigerated containers, or Reefer Tanks, are used for commodities requiring refrigerated or frozen conditions for their transport, such as fruit, vegetables and other foodstuffs. The most sophisticated versions even have a CO2 control system for the proper transportation of ripening food.

FCL shipping containers

Also known as full container load, where the letters FCL refer to the use of a complete container for a single shipment. This means that the container can be loaded and sealed, safe in the knowledge that everything inside it belongs to the same owner.

This kind of container is suitable in the event of having to export a large quantity of goods. Among its advantages are greater profitability for goods of a volume equal to or greater than 15m3, additional security of the cargo thanks to being sealed, and faster delivery, given that the container will make its way directly from its origin to its destination without stopping at ports along the way.

LCL shipping containers

At the opposite end from the scale from FCL, we offer the alternative of the LCL (Less than Container Load), much more suitable and manageable for small cargo volumes. Here the issue is simply cargo groupage, i.e. the grouping of moderate volumes of goods belonging to several shippers until filling a container. Although using an LCL container may be a somewhat slower alternative for maritime shipments, it works out cheaper because you share the costs.

In Bilogistik we supply container shipping services adjusted to the specific needs of your cargo. We collaborate with the different shipping companies and we freight, in all cases, with all kinds of materials, especially bulks, ferrous products and ferro-alloys.

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