Shipping Containers are often used for transporting and storing items. They can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as building materials or simple storage. Their utility is further augmented by their ability to be shipped over long distances when travelling by sea. Having more than 6,000 container ships out there, how many containers on a container ship?
Believe it or not, this is one of the largest industries in the world. To help you get an idea when a container ship got stuck in the Suez Canal and blocked it, it disrupted the trade industry all over the world. This is how big this industry is.
Furthermore, the industry keeps growing. One of the main reasons is that you can move impressive amounts of cargo in a single go without causing mayor disruption unless something drastic happens like Covid.
What makes shipping containers so popular?
There are many types of shipping containers out there. Intermodal containers were initially introduced in the USA in the 1950s. They were built to allow easy transportation – you can move containers from a ship to the next piece of transportation, such as a truck, without unpacking them.
Since you can transfer a whole unit at once, it is more convenient. Then, containers worldwide were manufactured in standard shapes and sizes so that they could be easily stored and moved without problems.
Whether it comes to their sturdiness or standard numbers, shipping containers have become the most popular option for numerous applications. This is why you can even find houses made of containers these days.
How many containers on a container ship? It depends on the size.
Becoming familiar with shipping container sizes
It always depends on the size. Larger containers will take more space, so there will be less of them on a ship. But then, two general sizing standards are used in most industries today:
The 20-foot container is one of them – also referred to as TEU. Then, you have the 40-foot container – known as FEU. Some ships deal with one size or the other. There are also logistics companies transporting containers of all kinds of sizes.
Now, how many containers are on a container ship? Back in the day, when containers became standard, most ships could take about 100 20-foot containers. But then, different companies and governments started building bigger and bigger ships.
Some of the largest ships in the world can take more than 20,000 containers.
The standard 20-foot container measures 20x8x8 feet. Its capacity is about 1,360 cubic feet. The world is more interconnected than ever. Hence the necessity of bigger transportation ships is a matter of demand. With these thoughts in mind, there is no doubt that container ships will get even bigger.
Bigger versus smaller container ships – Pros and cons
Generally speaking, bigger container ships are the better choice, especially over long distances. However, according to data from ImportDoor, which provides businesses with the ability to search for suppliers, manufacturers and vendors from around the world based on a database of millions of bill of lading, large vessels may also cause problems. When it comes to small ports or tight canals, these ships can cause bottlenecks, which slow everything down.
In Europe and Asia, it looks like exporters rely on smaller vessels – not more than 15,000 20-foot containers. They are more versatile, and they are more convenient despite not taking as many containers as large vessels.
On the other hand, a large container ship can provide a better fuel economy. Sure, such a ship may require more fuel to transport a heavier load, but it offers good value for money. One large ship is also environment-friendly compared to a bunch of small ships.
In an age where everyone tries to be environment-friendly, more and more companies focus on larger ships. At the same time, smaller ships are used for shorter distances or tricky waters.
How many containers on a container ship?
So, how many containers on a container ship then? Here are some of the largest vessels in the world and what they can take.
Measuring over 1,300 feet in length, HMM Algeciras can take just under 24,000 TEU containers. It was built in South Korea as a governmental attempt to become more competitive in the shipping industry. It is one of a kind and features some of the most advanced technologies.
Similar in size, MSC Gulsun was built in 2019 – also in South Korea. This one can take just over 23,750 TEU containers. To help you understand the efficiency of this ship, it will take over 1,350 planes to transport its load.
OOCL Hong Kong is similar in size and dominated the market back in 2017 when it came out. It takes 21,413 TEU containers and has become a role model for a few similar ships in the collection. The whole range dominated the world for a few years.
According to ImportDoor, a few other vessels worth some consideration include:
● COSCO Shipping Universe – 21,273 TEU
● CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupery – 20,776 TEU
● MOL Truth – 20,182 TEU
● Ever Golden – 20,000 TEU
● Ever Glory – 20,000 TEU
● Madrid Maersk – 19,630 TEU
● MV Barzan – 18,800 TEU
You can get all the data regarding shipments entering through the USA with the help of Importdoor SaaS dashboard. You can search by product, importer, exporter, product details, bill of lading, and container weight. Plus, the data can be exported in more formats for offline browsing.
Conclusion
So, how many containers on a container ship? It is a difficult question to answer because ships come in all shapes and sizes. It depends on the ship size, company, and a few other considerations.
Some of the smallest ships can barely take a few containers – mostly used for local business. Some ships in the middle range can take hundreds of containers – great for tricky waters and short distances.
However, when it comes to large ships, they will take thousands of containers. Some of the largest vessels in the world will easily take over 20,000 containers. It is even more interesting that the industry is far from reaching its peak, as newer and larger vessels are announced regularly.
