Containerisation

OVERVIEW

Containerisation is a system of freight transport for use in sea shipping that has reduced the transport costs of moving thousands of different goods across the globe.

Containers have standardised dimensions.

Containerisation has been a catalyst for globalisation.

A container can be handled anywhere in the world and ships, port equipment etc. adjusts to handling them with optimum efficiency and with big economies of scale

Manufacturers can optimise their packaging to fit into a container and thus lower the unit cost of transportation

By lowering the costs of trade containerisation has encouraged specialisation and the expansion of global supply chains.