The humble shipping container! Most of us dont give them a second thought. Theyve been around all our lives moving goods across the world on ships, lorries and trains. But was there ever a time they didnt exist? Well, yes if you go back far enough. Before standardised shipping containers, cargo was shipped in wooden crates, pallets, boxes, barrels or simply wrapped in sheets. This was labour intensive, expensive and slow.
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British traders first used containers hauled by horses and trains in the s. The next advance came during the second world war. The Australian and US military used standard sized containers to speed up supplies. These were mostly made of wood. Another decade would pass before the first patented shipping container went into service.
Malcolm McLean, widely hailed as the inventor of the shipping container, was a road haulier. He started out as a truck driver. His parents couldnt afford to send him to college. They did however have enough money to buy a second-hand truck. In McLean along with his brother and sister founded McLean Trucking Co.
In the McLean saw an opportunity to cut costs and speed up the movement of goods. Realising a standard size box could be loaded off a truck onto a ship and visa-versa much faster, he set about his plans.
McLean sold his haulage company in . Exploiting a legal loophole he purchased the Pan Atlantic Tanker Company soon after. McLean knew everything about road haulage but nothing about shipping, so he had to learn fast. McLean later renamed the company Sea-Land Shipping.
Now the proud owner of two WWII oil tankers, McLean started converting them into the worlds first container ships. The first was the SS Ideal X. On her maiden voyage as a container ship in April , she carried 58 containers from New Jersey to Texas.
Patented in after numerous tests, the first ISO container was born. It was stackable and built with steel. Reinforced corners made it possible to stack the containers without causing damage. They were uniform in size, theft-proof and easy to load.
Dockworkers at the time, known as longshoremen, went on strike. They realised loading containers onto ships would require a smaller workforce. It was this downtime that enable McLean to refine his designs.
McLeans big new idea was a success. He negotiated with the New York Port Authority to convert the New Jersey side of the harbour into a container port. The business would grow steadily over next ten years.
It wasnt until the late s that the containers would really take off. With the outbreak of War in Vietnam, the US military needed to get equipment to the troops quickly. They turned to McLean for the solution.
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His containers could be loaded up and sealed in the US. Then shipped from port to port, loaded onto trucks and delivered to the troops. The empty containers were used to ship goods back to the US from ports in Japan. It was a win win situation. In /69 the deal was responsible for 40% of Sea-Land Services revenue.
Following compromises among European and US railways, haulage companies and international shipping companies, the ISO standard was born. In ISO 668 was introduced which defined the dimensions we use today.
ISO shipping containers are the strongest modular structures in the world. They are stackable, easy to cut, relatively cheap and plentiful. So its not surprising they have other uses. Storage sheds, generator housing and even housing for humans are just some of the many uses.
A architectural report looked at the possibilities of using containers for structural purposes by the US military. It wasnt until that the first container homes started to appear. Philip Clark patented the method of converting steel shipping containers into homes. His patent () was granted in .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcom McLean
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Containerization
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping container architecture
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Yes, shipping container houses are a thing and yes, they are in popular demand. The first shipping container home was built about 10 years ago and its popularity has sky-rocketed. Shipping containers are now being modified into college dorms, apartment buildings, and modern-day houses. The latest trend in the housing industry is to utilize this steel cargo container previously used to ship goods worldwide, and then convert it into a comfy and affordable living space. This is far from your typical brick and mortar home. With prefabricated units being built, the possibilities are endless. You can use a single unit for a basic, smaller dwelling or can put several containers together for a larger space. From a modern design to shabby chic, you can create your own masterpiece with whatever fits your style.
The cost of building a container home is a lot less expensive than one might think. Purchasing an out of service container, meaning its no longer in circulation on the cargo ships, can cost you as low as $-$ and are readily available from American Trailer Rentals. Containers are great for the environment because you are essentially reusing metal resources. Since these shipping containers were once transported by cargo ship, train or bus, the mobility factor comes in handy when choosing where you want to locate your container home. If you want to travel, your new home has just become portable. Shipping container homes can also be useful in times of disaster, like during hurricanes when families are displaced.
Like any other home being built or remodeled, you still have to get a permit and adhere to zoning laws and codes. This can be a challenge since this is a new type of construction that many building municipalities are not familiar with. Its crucial to check with your local building officials before beginning construction to ensure youre container home will meet the required codes and zoning laws.
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