In maritime trade, unitization has evolved through many techniques which are strapping, pre-slinging and palletization to eventually today’s advanced unitization system: ”the container”.
In consideration of the vast variety of seaborne commodities and available port facilities, each system from the simplest to the enhanced, has its uses and function to fulfill.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Unitization
As a result of extra equipment required, unitization may increase costs to a certain extent, but it has the advantages as of speeding up cargo handling operations, reducing pilferage, and reducing the damage of goods.
Containerization
The emerge of containerization was a major step in the revolution of cargo-handling techniques which are still influencing maritime trade today, decades later.
Nearly all goods, even bulk and liquid commodities, are capable of being transported by containers, whereas specialized containers and new fittings are frequently introduced to a sophisticated market.
Overview by Container Size and Type
General purpose containers are boxes constructed with walls of aluminum or of thin steel sheeting, often ribbed to provide strength and rigidity with reinforced corner posts.
Containers are manufactured in a variety of sizes, although an effort to standardize containers has been spearheaded by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and most containers conform to one of the specific popular container sizes: containers of 20-feet and 40-feet lengths. These units are termed TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and FEUs (forty-foot equivalent units).
Other more specialized types of containers include:
- Open Top Containers: used for bulk or heavy cargo loaded through the open space at the top.
- Open Sided Containers: convenient when handling pallets or other unitized goods.
- Reefer Containers: ducted for cold air to be pumped into them.
Innovation has evolved container systems, which have been developed for the carriage of bulk commodities. Further developments have also taken place where it is possible to carry liquids in bulk in specialized containers, too.
