The facts about container shipping are extensive and require adequate information about what freight shipping really is. As a matter of fact, we dwelt on the various modes/methods of freight shipping, especially to Nigeria.

What Container Shipping Is
Container Shipping is a container with strength suitable to withstand shipment, storage, and handling. Shipping containers range from large reusable steel boxes used for intermodal shipments to the ubiquitous corrugated boxes.


It falls basically in Sea freight shipping category, specifically used for Groupage Freight — Less than container loads (LCL) as well as Full container load.


By intermodal shipment, we refer to a model that involves freight transportation that uses different types of transport medium, for example, rail, ship, and truck).
One of the advantages of this method of shipping is that it reduces cargo handling…..

Purpose Of Container Shipping Services
The importance of container shipping services to global trade cannot be over-emphasized. As stated above, it makes shipping quite easy and has been in existence for centuries.

So, whether you are purchasing shoes, bags, cars, clothes, or anything from China, India, USA or any part of the world to Nigeria, container shipping plays an economic impact on the importation process.


Container Freight Shipping: Advantages (Benefits) And Disadvantages

In the shipping industry, container freight shipping plays one most important role. The advantage of this is that it has aided the industry to a strong and steady-state.


This mode of shipping has a significant economic advantage over other means of transporting goods, for both the sender and the recipient.


Over 50,000 cargo ship sailing the world use this mode of shipping due to the positive factors it carries in aid to business profiting.

Impacts such as the ability to transport different types of goods such as raw materials, food, vehicles, equipment, furniture, apparel to mention but a few.

As a matter of fact, almost all goods that come into your port are stored in a shipping container.

Advantages Of Container Shipping

1. Adequate Security of Goods
Once the container is sealed, it bars against bad weather, temperature variations, theft, handling impacts, fire. Therefore limit or reduce the risk of loss of items to those conditions.
2. Fast Transportation and Low cost
The fear of breaking the bank is eliminated in the course of transporting or shipping container loads. This is because the container is the unit that documents all the goods that it contains. …..


3. Flexibility and Versatility, second to none
Container shipping can be used to ship a large batch as well as a small batch of goods to both long and short distance……


4. Warehousing
The container is its own warehouse; Simpler and less expensive packaging. Stacking capacity on ships, trains (double stacking) and on the ground (container yards).


Read Also: Why Air Freight Shipping is Best Alternative

Disadvantages Of Container Freight Shipping

1. Unavailability of Port/Terminals for Container Facilities
In some parts of the world where ports or terminals with container facilities may not be available, this creates a major setback.


2. They require adequate handling techniques.
Container shipping requires adequate sophisticated handling techniques, which without, will affect the shipment process. The infrastructure put in place by ship operators to handle containers….


3. Delays may occur.
Even where such sophisticated facilities are available, delays may still occur due to overburden of loads and non-availability due to a container operator’s inability to secure a return load.


4. Large Capital Expenditure
This may be essential to handle ‘container-based’ networks. For smaller businesses, this may be a major concern as capital expenditure is highly needed in handling container shipping….


5. Some physical constraints may cause costly special packaging
There are some constraints that may involve a certain cost. Constraints like high temperatures, lack of ventilation inside the container, etc. ……
In order to salvage such physical situations, a rather costly special packaging and signing up for special container shipping insurance becomes imperative.


Type Of Container, Dimension And Specifications

There are two significant types of container, with various differences in dimension.

We have the 20 feet container and the 40 feet container.

These containers are of standardized dimensions. They can be loaded and unloaded, stacked, transported efficiently over long distances, and transferred from one mode of transport to another, i.e. container ships, rail transport flatcars, and semi-trailer trucks, without being opened


Factors Determinating Cost Of Container Freight Shipping

Many factors determine the cost of Full Container Load Container shipping. Some of the factors are as follows:

(1) Size of Container: [/b]While there are other variations of container dimension, the standard dimensions are 20ft and 40ft. Other variations may include refrigerated units with different sizes.

(2) [b]Shipping Route: Distance matter in determining the cost to ship a container. A container being sent from Lagos to Ogun State, Nigeria is always going to be less costly to ship than one being sent on routes that are not particularly common.

(3) Demand and Supply: Cost of shipping a container may vary especially as dictated by economics trend and market fluctuations. Basic economics dictates the freight industry globally. “During the busiest shipping seasons, container rates go up –– sometimes substantially.”


SOURCE: https://bowagateglobal.com/2019/10/10/top-essential-facts-about-container-shipping/