What is a Shipping Container?

Container freight transport (Container freight transport) refers to the use of large containers such as containers as a carrier to assemble goods into container units, in order to use large-scale loading and unloading machinery and large-scale vehicles to carry out loading, unloading, and handling operations and complete transportation Mission, so as to better realize a new, high-efficiency and high-efficiency transportation method of "door to door" transportation of goods.

Container freight transport (Container freight transport) refers to the use of large containers such as containers as a carrier to assemble goods into container units, in order to use large-scale loading and unloading machinery and large-scale vehicles to carry out loading, unloading, and handling operations and complete transportation Mission, so as to better realize a new, high-efficiency and high-efficiency transportation method of "door to door" transportation of goods.

Chinese name

container shipping

Foreign name

Containerfreight transport

Carrier

container

Features

High efficiency, high quality, standardization, etc.

Container transportation introduction

Meaning of container shipping container

The container has the following conditions:

1. Can be used repeatedly for a long time, with sufficient strength and stiffness;

2. There are devices for loading and unloading and handling, which are convenient for mechanical loading and unloading;

3. Can be easily changed and fixed directly between various transportation vehicles without turning the goods in the box;

4. Convenient for full cargo loading and emptying;

5. The volume is not less than 1 cubic meter. ^[1]

Container shipping container concept

Container freight transport (Container freight transport) refers to the use of large containers such as containers as a carrier to assemble goods into container units, in order to use large-scale loading and unloading machinery and large-scale vehicles to carry out loading, unloading, and handling operations in the field of modern circulation. Mission, so as to better realize a new, high-efficiency and high-efficiency transportation method of "door to door" transportation of goods. ^[2]

Development of container transportation

Although container transportation is a modern transportation method, its development has gone through a long process. The development of container transportation can be divided into the following stages:

19~1966 The initial stage of container transportation (early 19th century ~ 1966)

Container shipping originated in the UK. As early as 1801, Dr. James Anderson of the United Kingdom had proposed the idea of loading goods into containers for transportation. In 1845, the British Railways used a way of exchanging freight cars, treating cars as containers, so that the concept of container transportation was initially applied. In the middle of the 19th century, a cargo carrying tool with a movable frame was used to transport cotton yarn and cotton cloth in Lancashire, England. This is the prototype of a container.

The official use of containers to transport goods was in the early 20th century. In 1900, container shipping was first trialled on British railways, and later spread to the United States (1917), Germany (1920), France (1928), and other European and American countries.

container shipping

Before 1966, although container transportation achieved certain development, at this stage container transportation authority was granted to some advanced countries in Europe and the United States, mainly engaged in railway, road transportation and domestic coastal transportation; the type of ship is mainly converted semi-container ships, and its typical ships The loading capacity is only about 500TEU (20ft container conversion unit, referred to as "conversion box"), and the speed is relatively slow; the box type mainly uses non-standard containers with a section of 8ft × 8ft and a length of 24ft, 27ft, and 35ft, and some are Standard containers with a length of 20ft and 40ft; the material of the boxes began to be steel, and later, aluminum containers began to appear; ship loading and unloading were mainly ship loading and unloading bridges, and only a few dedicated docks had shore loading and unloading bridges; dock loading and unloading The process mainly adopts the chassis vehicle method pioneered by the sea and land transportation company, and straddle transportation vehicles have just appeared; the operation mode of container transportation is to provide only port-to-port services. These characteristics indicate that container transportation was still in its initial stage before 1966, but its advantages have been shown, which laid a good foundation for the large-scale development of container transportation in the future.

1967~1983 Development Stage of Container Transportation (1967 ~ 1983)

From 1966 to 1983, the superiority of container transportation was more and more recognized. The rapid development of international container transportation led by maritime transportation was a critical period for the world's transportation to enter the era of containerization.

There were approximately 230,000 TEUs in 1970 and 2.08 million TEUs in 1983. The movement of container ships has spread all over the world. With the development of maritime container transportation, various ports have built special container berths. By 1983, the number of container berths in the world had increased to 983. The annual container throughput of major ports in the world reached 15% in the 1970s. The leading edge of the dedicated berths are equipped with loading and unloading bridges, and the second-generation container loading and unloading bridges have appeared at the container terminal in Rotterdam Port, which can load and unload 50TEU per hour. Wheeled gantry cranes, straddle carriers and other machinery have been widely used on the dock yard, while the chassis vehicle technology has gradually declined. During this period, the traditional method of managing general cargo transportation was comprehensively reformed, a management system compatible with advanced transportation methods was gradually formed, and computers were also widely used, especially in May 1980 when it was held in Geneva. An international multimodal transport conference attended by UNCTAD member states has adopted the United Nations Convention on International Multimodal Transport of Goods. The Convention provides for the definition of international multimodal transport of goods, the contents of multimodal transport documents, and the liability of multimodal transport operators. Although the Convention has not entered into force, its main content has been cited and applied by many countries.

container

Although in the mid 1970s, the development of container transportation slowed down due to the impact of the oil crisis, this period of development was relatively long, especially for many new technologies, new machinery, new container types, new ship types, and modern management. It emerged at this stage, and the development of the world's container in the direction of multimodal transportation was also born in this stage, so it can be called the development stage of container transportation.

1984 Container shipping mature stage (after 1984)

After 1984, the world shipping market got rid of the impact of the oil crisis, and began to move out of the trough, and the container transportation again embarked on the road of stable development. Data show that the containerization of general cargo transportation in developed countries has exceeded 80%. According to statistics, there were more than 6,800 container ships of various types in the world by 1998, with a total container load of 57.79 million TEU. Container transportation has spread to all shipping countries in the world, and as container transportation enters a mature stage. The containerization of the world's marine cargo has become an irresistible development trend.

The characteristics of container transportation entering the mature stage are mainly reflected in the following two aspects:

(1) The complete set of technology of hardware and software tends to be perfect. Trunk full container ships are developing towards full automation and large scale, and the third and fourth generation container ships of 2500 ~ 4000TEU have appeared. Some large shipping companies have used large ships to organize global routes. In order to meet the needs of large ship berthing and loading and unloading operations, the port is large and high speed. Automatic loading and unloading bridges have also been further developed. In order to extend the container from the port to the inland, some advanced countries have carried out a large number of supporting constructions on inland collection and distribution roads, railways and transit stations, as well as vehicles and ships. With regard to transportation management, with the increasing improvement of international regulations and the gradual formation of international management, scientific management methods and modern management methods have been realized. Some advanced countries have evolved from being limited to port area management to integrated information management that is networked with relevant ports, and some large companies have been able to track and manage containers worldwide through communications satellites. The complete set of container transportation technologies in advanced countries has laid a good foundation for the development of multimodal transport.

(2) Began to enter the multimodal transport and "door-to-door" transport phase. Realizing the combined transportation of multiple transportation modes is the development direction of modern transportation, and container transportation has unique advantages in this regard. The advanced countries have established and perfected the comprehensive container transportation system, which has made container transportation break through the "port-to-port" concept of traditional transportation methods, and comprehensively make use of the advantages of various transportation methods to provide cargo owners with "door-to-door" high-quality transportation services. , So that the advantages of container transportation can be brought into full play. "Door-to-door" transportation is a complex international comprehensive transportation system project. In order to develop container transportation, advanced countries have taken this as a specialized discipline and trained a large number of senior management personnel, business personnel and operators of container transportation to make container transportation in Both theoretical and practical aspects have been gradually improved.

Advantages of container transportation

1. Ensure the safety of cargo transportation. Container transportation greatly reduces the number of manual loading, unloading, and handling times in traditional modes of transportation, which can avoid freight accidents such as cargo damage, wet damage, and loss caused by human and natural factors, and reduce economic losses.

2. Save cargo packing materials. The use of container transportation can simplify or eliminate the need for transportation packaging, save packaging materials and costs, and reduce the cost of goods.

3. Simplify freight procedures. After the goods are transported in containers, the use of boxes as the transport unit of the goods reduces the complicated operation links and simplifies the freight operation procedures.

4. Improve the efficiency of loading and unloading operations. As container loading and unloading operations are suitable for mechanization, the efficiency of loading and unloading operations has been greatly improved. At the same time, the dwell time of the container station (port) is greatly shortened, and the turnover of vehicles and ships and the delivery of goods are accelerated.

5. Reduce operating expenses and transportation costs. Cargo damage and spread have been greatly reduced, and cargo insurance costs have also fallen. After carrying out the "door-to-door" transportation business, it can save a lot of warehouse construction costs and warehouse operation costs.

6. Facilitate automated management. A container is a standardized cargo transport unit, which creates convenient conditions for automated management.

Container transportation related parties and division of responsibilities

Major parties involved in container transportation

The management method and working system of container transportation are different from traditional transportation methods. The main related parties are container transportation operators, NVOCCs, actual carriers, container leasing companies, container terminals (yards) and freight station.

NVOCC

They specialize in the collection, packing, unpacking, inland transportation, and operation of transfer stations or inland stations for containerized freight. They may or may not have actual transportation.

Actual carrier

Carriers who master the means of transportation and participate in container transportation. Usually they have a large number of containers to facilitate container turnover, allocation, management, and the connection between containers and vehicles.

Container leasing company

Specializing in container rental business. The objects of container leasing are mainly some smaller transportation companies, NVOCCs and a few cargo owners. These companies' businesses include leasing, recycling, storage, custody, and repair.

Container Yard

Refers to the place for handling heavy containers or empty containers for loading, unloading, transfer, storage, and handover.

Container freight station

It is a place for handling LCL cargo. After handling the LCL cargo transfer and stowage, it sends the boxes to CY and accepts the imported containers from CY for unpacking, tallying, storage, and finally dialing To each consignee. At the same time, it can also carry out services such as seals and issuing station receipts as entrusted by the carrier.

Division of container transportation responsibilities

The shipper's responsibilities in container transportation are not exactly the same as those in traditional shipping. The responsibilities of the LCL shipper are the same as for traditional shipping. The FCL shipper's responsibilities are different from traditional transportation:

1. The accuracy and completeness of the reported freight information shall be guaranteed;

2. The carrier has the right to check the goods contained in the box, and the expenses incurred due to the check shall be borne by the shipper;

3. If the customs or other authority opens the box for inspection, the cost and the resulting cargo damage and difference shall be borne by the shipper;

4. If the container cargo is unsatisfactory, or has poor padding, improper stowage, or is loaded with goods that are not suitable for container transportation, the shipper shall be responsible for the damage and poor cargo caused by it;

5. If the shipper's own unsuitable container is used, the shipper shall be responsible for the cargo damage accident. If the carrier's container and equipment are used, damage to the property or life of a third party is caused by the shipper People are responsible for compensation.

Limits of Liability is the maximum amount of compensation that the carrier should bear in the event of cargo damage or shortage during container transportation. Limitation of liability for LCL is the same as for traditional shipping. The compensation for the full container is based on some international jurisprudence: if the number of goods contained in the box is not listed on the bill of lading, each box is used as a unit of claim calculation; ; If the damage and loss of the goods does not belong to the maritime process, but occurs inland transportation, the maximum compensation for land transportation shall be applied; if the container is owned or provided by the shipper, the loss or damage is encountered, and Its responsibility really belongs to the carrier, and it should also be regarded as a claim calculation unit.

Container transportation characteristics

High efficiency of container transportation

The high economic benefits of container transportation are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1) Simplify packaging and save a lot of packaging costs. In order to prevent the goods from being damaged during transportation, there must be strong packaging, and the container has strong and sealed characteristics, which is an excellent packaging in itself. The use of a container can simplify packaging, and some or even no packaging is required to achieve unpackaged transportation of miscellaneous goods, which can greatly save packaging costs.

2) Reduce cargo damage and spread, and improve freight quality. Since the container is a sturdy sealed box, the container itself is a sturdy package. After the goods are boxed and sealed, there is no need to unpack and reload them on the way. One ticket to the end, even after long distance transportation or multiple reloading, will not easily damage the goods in the box. Container transportation can reduce cargo damage and freight spread caused by theft, humidity, and pollution, and because of the reduction of cargo damage and freight spread, it reduces the waste of social wealth and has great social benefits.

3) Reduce operating costs and transportation costs. As the loading and unloading of containers is largely unaffected by harsh weather, the ship s non-productive berthing time is shortened, and due to the high loading and unloading efficiency, the loading and unloading time is shortened. For shipping companies, navigation can be improved. For the port, it can improve the capacity of the berth to increase the throughput and increase the revenue.

High efficiency of container transportation

Traditional transportation methods have the disadvantages of many loading and unloading links, high labor intensity, low loading and unloading efficiency, and slow ship turnover. And container shipping has completely changed this situation.

1) The loading and unloading of ordinary cargo ships is generally about 35t per hour, while the loading and unloading of containers can reach about 400t per hour, which greatly improves the loading and unloading efficiency. At the same time, due to the high degree of mechanization of container loading and unloading, the number of loading and unloading workers required per shift group is very small, and the average labor productivity of each worker has greatly improved.

2) Due to the high efficiency of container loading and unloading, the impact of the weather is small, and the ship's stay time in the port is greatly shortened. As a result, the ship's voyage time is shortened, the ship's turnover is accelerated, the sailing rate is greatly improved, and the ship's production efficiency is improved accordingly. Capacity, without increasing the number of ships, can complete more traffic and increase the revenue of shipping companies. Such high efficiency leads to high efficiency.

High investment in container transportation

Although container transportation is a highly efficient mode of transportation, it is also a highly capital-intensive industry.

1) Shipping companies must make huge investments in ships and containers. According to relevant data, the cost per cubic foot of container ships is about 3.7 to 4 times that of ordinary cargo ships. The investment in containers is quite large, and the high investment required to carry out container transportation makes the fixed cost of the shipping company's total cost account for a considerable proportion, up to more than two-thirds.

2) Port investment in container transportation is also quite large. The terminal facilities of the dedicated container berths include the terminal shoreline and frontier, freight yards, freight stations, maintenance workshops, control towers, porters, and container handling machinery, etc., which are costly.

3) In order to carry out multimodal container transportation, corresponding inter-infrastructure facilities and inland freight stations are also required. In order to support the construction, this requires the construction, expansion, transformation, and upgrading of existing highways, railways, bridges, culverts, etc. The investment in this area is even more amazing. It can be seen that without sufficient funds to carry out container transportation, it is difficult to realize containerization. We must act in accordance with national strength and finally achieve containerization.

High Collaboration in Container Transportation

Container transportation involves a wide range of areas, many links and a large impact, and is a complex transportation system project. The container transportation system includes shipping, land transportation, air transportation, ports, freight stations, as well as units and departments such as customs, commodity inspection, shipping agency companies, and freight agency companies related to container transportation. If they do not cooperate with each other properly, it will affect the functioning of the entire transportation system. If a link is wrong, it will affect the overall situation and even cause transportation production to stop and be interrupted. Therefore, a high degree of coordination among all links and departments of the entire transportation system is required.

Container transport multimodal transport

When the container transportation is reloaded between different transportation modes, it is not necessary to carry the goods in the box but only to reload the container, which improves the efficiency of the reloading operation and is suitable for joint transportation between different transportation modes. When reloading and transshipment, the customs and relevant supervision units only need to seal or check the seal for clearance, thereby improving the transportation efficiency.

In addition, since international container transportation and multimodal transportation are an industry with capital intensive, technology intensive and high management requirements, and a complex transportation system project, this requires managers, technicians, and business personnel with high quality In order to be competent, and to give full play to the advantages of international container transportation.

Container transportation characteristics

Container transport classification

1. According to external dimensions and quality specifications, it is divided into international standards and Chinese standards.

2. According to quality, it can be divided into: large, with a total weight of 20 tons and above; small, with a total weight of 5 tons and below; the rest are medium.

3. According to the material, it is divided into three types: aluminum alloy, steel and glass steel.

4. According to the structure, it is divided into folding and dismounting type, inner column type, outer column type and thin shell type.

5. According to the purpose, it is divided into two categories: general and special.

Container shipping type

1. Automobile container transportation is divided into two types: FCL cargo transportation and LCL cargo transportation.

FCL cargo transportation. The delivery operation is based on "boxes". The owner of the packing and unboxing operations is responsible for taking care of themselves. The owner applies the seals by himself. The seal indicates the consignor, the shipping point, and the date of sealing. Hang the cargo mark on the door handle of the box, and the mark should indicate the place of origin and consignee. During container transportation, handover is carried out with a lead seal.

2. LCL cargo transportation. The pick-up operation is still completed in the form of ordinary cargo, and the packing and unpacking operations of LCL cargo should be completed in the container freight station.

Container Transport Organization

Container shipping organization

1. Container supply

The source of suitable containers for containers is based on 12 categories of suitable containers according to the State's "Regulations on the Development of Several Issues in the Development of China's Container Transportation", namely, electricity, equipment, small machinery, glass ceramics, handicrafts; printed materials, paper, medicine , Tobacco, alcoholic food, daily necessities, chemicals, needle textiles and hardware, and other miscellaneous goods, precious, fragile, and wet goods are all classified as container transport goods. The source of container is divided into two types: FCL and LCL. FCL refers to the goods that the consignor needs to use in a single container. FCL is responsible for counting and sealing the container. LCL refers to the goods assembled by two or more consignees in one container, and the loading or unloading of the LCL is the responsibility of the carrier or the relevant transportation agency.

2. Daily supply organization work

Doing a good job of organizing the daily supply of goods is of great significance for organizing reasonable transportation and making full use of existing equipment capabilities. The daily supply of goods has certain requirements on the variety, quantity, flow and time of the goods. For different types of goods, we need to understand their size, shape, weight, and the type and quantity of containers required; in the flow direction, we need to bring the goods to the station and port so that we can organize the assembly of the goods; in time, we need to carry out the transportation operations. Organization of supply. The organization of daily resources is a very important and meticulous task. It must be completed in cooperation with production, transportation and sales.

Container Transport Working Organization

The container transportation organization can be divided into sending operation, transit operation and delivery operation declaration. Take the railway container transportation organization as an example:

1.Send job

It refers to various freight operations before shipment at the station, including organization work before container shipping and operations from shipping to shipping. Specifically, it includes the conditions and relevant regulations for the clear use of container transportation. If it must be at a designated container handling station, it should be handled in accordance with the stipulated date of carriage within the station: handling station acceptance, review, and packing.

2. Transfer operations

In addition to the form of container transportation from the departure station to the arrival station, there are still some containers that need to be transited to reach the station. The task of the transfer station is to quickly transfer the containers that arrive at the transfer station to the destination, reassemble them at the station and continue to send them to the station.

3.Delivery

Refers to the unloading and delivery procedures to the cargo owner after the truck loaded with the container arrives at the yard. It specifically includes unloading operations and delivery operations. The railway freight forwarders arrange the cargo locations, check the waybills, invoices, and loading lists according to the unloading plan of the station Whether it is consistent with the container box number and seal number, it needs to be checked box by box and unloaded. After completion, fill in the arrival record / final and notify the shipper by the freight room. For door-to-door containers, the railway freighter and the consignee's agent will check the box number together, check the box seal, and after confirming that there is no error, fill in the door-to-door transport work order and sign on the work order.

Container transport intermodal form

The inevitable product of the modern development of the container transportation exhibition. The development of container transportation must also carry out the combined transportation of containers. Carrying out container transportation by one mode of transportation alone has not been able to give full play to the advantages of container transportation, and it has not reached the peak effect. Therefore, the organization of container, multimodal transportation by rail, water, and highway has become an inevitable product of modern transportation. Today, container transportation is called the main transportation of land, sea and air, and it has developed from domestic to international transportation. It is carried out in the mode of transportation, and has been developed in several countries and even in the intercontinental range. Container intermodal transportation is the completion of the entire process of transportation by the competent authorities of various transportation modes in cooperation with each other.

Container transportation handover method

In container transportation, there are the following methods for the transfer of FCL and LCL cargo between the ship and the cargo:

1. Door to Door (Door to Door): The container loaded by the shipper is delivered to the carrier in its warehouse or factory warehouse for acceptance, and the carrier is responsible for the entire transportation until the receiver's warehouse or factory warehouse delivers the box. . This kind of full-line transportation is called "door-to-door" transportation.

2. Door to CY (DoortoCY): The container yard of the container loading and unloading area from the shipper's warehouse or factory warehouse to the destination or unloading port.

3. DoortoCFS: A container freight station from the shipper's warehouse or factory warehouse to the destination or unloading port.

4. Field-to-door (CYtoDoor): from the container loading area of the place of departure or the port of loading to the receiver's warehouse or factory warehouse.

5. Field-to-field (CYtoCY): From the container loading and unloading area yard at the place of departure or loading port to the container loading and unloading area yard at the destination or unloading port.

6. Yard to Station (CYtoCFS): From the container loading dock at the place of departure or loading port to the container freight station at the destination or port of loading.

7. Station-to-door (CFStoDoor): From the container freight station at the place of departure or loading port to the receiver's warehouse or factory warehouse.

8. Station to site (CFStoCY): From the container freight station at the place of departure or loading port to the container loading and unloading area yard at the destination or unloading port.

9. Station-to-station (CFStoCFS): From the container freight station at the place of departure or loading port to the container freight station at the destination or port of unloading.

10` The unique document for container export freight is the equipment transfer order.

Technology applied in container transportation

IT: Information Technology

EDI: Electronic Data Interchange

GPS: Global Positioning System

TMS: Terminal Manage System

IMT: International Multimodal Transport

Container transportation driver safety operation regulations

First, container transportation should be carried by special vehicles. The vehicles must be intact. The safety twist lock must be safe and reliable. After packing, check whether the lock pin is firmly locked.

2. When shipping heavy containers, the driver must understand the performance of the cargo to prevent accidents due to damage or impact.

3. When shipping containers, pay attention to whether the door is closed tightly, especially when the empty container is shipped, to prevent the door from opening during driving.

4. When a non-container special vehicle is transporting a container, whether it is empty or heavy, the distance is short or close, and the carriage barrier is less than one meter, it must be done:

1. Equipped with special fastening tools for transportation containers (hoist, wire rope, wire tightener).

2. Vehicles with barriers less than one meter high should be reinforced.

3. When loading a container without a carriage barrier, no matter how far or short it is, it must not be transported without being fastened.

Fifth, container vehicles must strictly abide by traffic rules during driving. When meeting vehicles on narrow roads, pay attention to the communication lines, trees and other obstacles above.

6. When driving, speed should be controlled according to different road conditions, and sudden braking is strictly prohibited, especially when the vehicle is turning to reduce the speed to prevent accidents from overturning.

7. Special tools (ladders, safety belts) shall be provided when shovel and hoisting the container. It is strictly forbidden that the hoisting, loading and unloading operators shall accidentally get in and out of the container.

Basis for container transportation

The main basis for determining the container reserve of the route includes the following four aspects:

1. The number of container ships configured on the route;

2. Time of container ship round trip;

3. The average turnover days of containers inland;

4. The container load of container ships and its utilization rate.

Container Transport Container Transport Export Procedures

1. Booking-according to the provisions of the trade contract or letter of credit, the consignor fills out a container cargo consignment note within a certain period of time before the consignment of the cargo and entrusts its agent or applies directly to the shipping company for booking.

2.Accept shipment application-the shipping company or the agency considers the requirements of the shipper based on its own capacity, route and other specific circumstances, and decides whether to accept or not. Container yard to arrange empty containers and handle freight transfer.

3. Distribution of empty containers-Usually empty containers for FCL cargo are collected by the consignor at the container terminal yard, and some owners have their own containers; empty containers for LCL cargo are collected by the container freight station.

4. LCL packing-the consignor delivers less than one full container to the freight station, and the freight station is responsible for packing according to the booking list and the station receipt, and then the packer prepares the container packing list.

5, FCL delivery-the consignor is responsible for packing, and the FCL with the customs seal will be shipped to the container yard. According to the booking list, the container yard checks the station receipt and packing list to check and accept the goods.

6. Handover Visa for Containers-The container yard or container yard signs the acceptance of the goods and / or boxes, that is, the receipt at the station, and returns the signed D / R to the consignor.