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Using A Shipping Container For Business Storage and Onsite Storage

Used shipping containers are versatile storage solutions that have been increasingly used by businesses across a variety of industries. Steel shipping containers are sturdy, secure, and mobile, making them ideal for businesses that require additional storage space. In this article, we will explore the most common businesses that use onsite shipping container storage, answer some common questions about business storage uses, and share some tips on how to use a used cargo container as storage for your business. 40 high cube container for sale

Can I use a shipping container for business storage space?

Yes! Shipping containers are widely used as temporary, mobile storage space by a variety of different businesses. Can your business use a cargo container to solve it’s business storage needs?

Shipping containers have become a popular choice for businesses looking for storage space. These versatile and durable containers can be used for a variety of purposes, from storing excess inventory to creating on-site offices. In this article, we will explore the benefits of using shipping container storage space for business use.

Shipping containers provide a cost-effective storage solution for businesses. Traditional storage solutions such as warehouses or storage units can be expensive, especially for small businesses. Shipping containers, on the other hand, are relatively affordable and can be purchased outright or rented for a fraction of the cost of other storage options. Additionally, since shipping containers are made to withstand harsh weather conditions and long-term use, they do not require as much maintenance as other storage options, which can save businesses money in the long run.

Here is a list of common business uses for shipping container storage in the USA

  • Construction companies

It’s very common to see shipping containers onsite at a building site. Construction companies often use shipping containers for onsite storage of equipment, tools, and building materials. Shipping containers can be easily transported to construction sites, and their robust construction makes them ideal for the harsh conditions often found on construction sites. They are the ideal storage solution for construction sites.

  • Retail businesses

Many retail businesses often use shipping containers for additional storage space. They can be placed at the back of the store or in a separate location to store excess inventory, seasonal items, or supplies. Retail businesses can also customize the containers with branding or signage to create a unique and eye-catching storefront.

  • Farms and agriculture businesses

Farms and agriculture businesses often require additional storage space for equipment, animal feed, and crops. Shipping containers provide a cost-effective and durable solution to meet these needs. They can be placed in a convenient location on the farm or at a processing facility, and their sturdy construction ensures that the contents inside are protected from the elements.

A 20ft. standard shipping container delivered to a Conex Depot customer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The container will be used to provide insulated storage for our customers farm equipment.

  • Manufacturing and industrial businesses

Manufacturing and industrial businesses often require additional storage space for raw materials, finished products, and equipment. Shipping containers provide a flexible and secure storage solution that can be customized to meet the specific needs of the business. They can be easily transported to different locations, making them ideal for businesses that require storage on multiple sites.

  • Schools and universities

Schools and universities often require additional storage space for sports equipment, maintenance supplies, and seasonal items. Shipping containers can be placed on campus, providing a convenient and secure storage solution. They can also be customized with branding or school colors to create a unique and eye-catching addition to the campus.

  • Event companies

Event companies often require additional storage space for equipment, decorations, and supplies. Shipping containers can be easily transported to event locations, providing a convenient and secure storage solution. They can also be customized with branding or signage to create a unique and professional look for the event.

  • Transportation and logistics companies

Transportation and logistics companies often require additional storage space for cargo, equipment, and supplies. Shipping containers provide a cost-effective and secure solution to meet these needs. They can be easily transported to different locations, making them ideal for businesses that require storage at multiple sites.

Used shipping containers have become increasingly popular as a storage solution for businesses across various industries. Their versatility, durability, and mobility make them ideal for businesses that require temporary, additional storage space.

 

What are the advantages of using shipping containers for business storage?

Versatility.
The main benefit of using shipping container storage space for businesses is the versatility they offer. These used Conex containers come in a range of sizes and can be customized to meet the specific needs of businesses. For example, a smaller business may only need a single container for storage, while a larger business may require several containers that are linked together to create a larger storage space. Additionally, shipping containers can be modified to include windows, ventilation, and other features that make them suitable for use as offices or workshops.

Secure storage. One of the main advantages of using shipping container storage space is the security they provide. These containers are made from high-grade steel and are designed to withstand the elements and protect their contents from theft and vandalism. Additionally, since shipping containers can be locked and secured with padlocks or other security devices, businesses can rest assured that their items are safe and secure.

Mobile storage
Another major advantage of using shipping container storage space is their mobility. These shipping containers can be transported easily, making them an excellent option for businesses that need to move their storage space from one location to another. For example, a construction company may use shipping containers to store equipment and materials on-site, and then transport the containers to a new location once the project is complete. Additionally, shipping containers can be stacked and linked together, making them ideal for businesses that need to create multi-level storage spaces.

Think green.
Using shipping container storage space can also have environmental benefits. These containers are made from steel, which is a highly recyclable material. Additionally, since shipping containers can be repurposed for a variety of uses, they can help reduce waste and the need for new materials. Finally, since shipping containers can be modified to include insulation and other features that make them energy-efficient, they can help businesses reduce their carbon footprint.

Factors to consider.
When it comes to using shipping container storage space for business use, there are some considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, businesses need to ensure that they have enough space to accommodate the containers. Shipping containers come in a range of sizes, from 10 feet to 40 feet in length, and businesses need to ensure that they have enough space to accommodate the containers they need. Additionally, businesses should consider the cost of transporting the containers to their location, as this can add to the overall cost of using shipping container storage space.

Another consideration is the type of items that will be stored in the containers. Some items, such as hazardous materials, may require special storage requirements, and businesses need to ensure that they are complying with all relevant regulations. Additionally, businesses should consider the climate of their location, as some containers may require additional insulation or ventilation to protect their contents from extreme temperatures.

Shipping container storage space is a versatile and cost-effective storage option for businesses. These containers offer a range of benefits, from their durability and security to their mobility and environmental benefits. However, businesses need to carefully consider their needs and ensure that they are complying with all relevant regulations before using shipping container storage space for business use.

 

Bonus advantage to using cargo containers for business storage:
Can storage be a business expense and tax deductible?

Yes! If you operate a business with legitimate storage needs,, you may claim your storage expenses as a standard business expense deduction. As a smaller corporation, you may also ne able to can claim self-employment tax deductions for shipping container storage provided they are ordinary necessities of doing business for you.

 

What is the best advice on using Shipping Containers as Storage Units?
Shipping containers are sturdy, secure, and easily transportable, making them cost-effective and versatile storage solutions for businesses of all sizes. However, there are several tips and best practices that businesses should follow to get the most out of their shipping container storage units.

Do you need permission for storage containers?
Generally speaking, the answer is no. Shipping containers are classified as temporary structures and so planning permission is not normally required . However, it’s recommended to check with your local municipality as it is not to possible to guarantee that you won’t need a permit for a shipping container in your state or city.

In some US locations it might be necessary to obtain one or more permits to place or build any structure that doesn’t have a permanent foundation. If you plan to employ the shipping container to serve as a barn or shed, you might need a permit. For your peace of mind, it’s best to check with your local authorities.

A 40ft. high cube shipping container delivered to a Conex Depot customer in Blacksburg, Virginia. The container will be used to store vintage cars which require a stable temperature which are insulated containers can provide.

Here are some useful tips if you are considering if buying a used shipping container for business storage which should answer some common questions

  • Choose the right size container

The first tip is to choose the right size container for your business’s storage needs. Shipping containers come in a range of sizes, from 10 feet to 40 feet in length, and businesses should carefully consider their storage requirements to choose the right size container. Best to measure the available space that you have allocated to situate your shipping container. It’s essential to remember that larger containers will generally be more expensive, so businesses should strike a balance between their storage needs and budget.

  1. Preventing “Container Rain” With proper ventilation
    Proper ventilation is critical when using shipping containers for storage. Without adequate ventilation, items stored in the container can become damaged by condensation, mold, and mildew. Businesses can install vents or fans to improve airflow and prevent moisture buildup. Alternatively, businesses can consider using a container with an insulated roof to reduce the risk of condensation.
  1. Insulate the shipping container

Insulating the container can help regulate the temperature inside and protect items stored inside from extreme temperatures. Insulation can be added to the walls, floor, and ceiling of the container to keep the contents at a stable temperature. Insulation can also help to reduce noise levels inside the container, making it a more comfortable workspace for employees.

  • Install shelves and storage racks

One of the best ways to maximize the storage space inside a shipping container is to install shelves and storage racks. These can be custom-built to fit the dimensions of the container and can help to keep the space organized and tidy. Shelves and storage racks can also help businesses to make the most of the vertical space inside the container, maximizing the storage capacity.

  • Ensure proper security

Security is critical when using shipping containers for business storage. Businesses should ensure that the container is securely locked and that any windows or vents are covered or secured. Additionally, businesses should consider installing security cameras or alarms to deter theft and vandalism.

  • Consider a climate-controlled container

For businesses storing items that are sensitive to temperature and humidity, a climate-controlled container may be the best option. These containers are equipped with heating and cooling systems to regulate the temperature and humidity levels inside the container. Climate-controlled containers are particularly useful for businesses storing items like electronics, art, or documents.

  • Regularly inspect and maintain the container

Regular inspections and maintenance can help to ensure that the shipping container is in good condition and that the contents inside are protected. Businesses should inspect the container for any signs of damage, such as rust or leaks, and make any necessary repairs. Additionally, businesses should regularly clean the container and ensure that it is free of debris and pests.

In conclusion, buying a used shipping container can be an excellent storage solution for small businesses, but they require proper planning, preparation, and maintenance. By following these tips, businesses can maximize the storage capacity of their shipping container, protect their contents, and ensure that the container remains in good condition for years to come.


Most of the goods that we use in our everyday lives – like the very smartphone you are using to read this article – were manufactured in another country, loaded into a Conex shipping container, and shipped across the ocean on a massive container ship and unloaded at a shipping container port near your city.

It should be no surprise that nearly 80% of all consumer goods are transported by sea by a small number of major international shipping container companies. Major shipping companies that host fleets of hundreds of ocean going vessels and the innumerable steel cargo containers that they carry on transoceanic voyages to the consumer markets in the USA and other countries.  shipping containers for sale Atlanta

You have likely seen photos of enormous freight liners carrying Conex containers with names such as Maersk, COSCO Shipping, and Evergreen being unloaded at coastal cargo ports. This article is about these major container shipping companies and a little background on the history of the 5 biggest shipping companies.

The size of the largest container shipping companies are measured according to two criteria:
!) The number of container ships in the company’s fleet
2) The company’s volume of TEUs* – an industry term that measures the volume of goods that may be transported inside a standard 20 ft Conex container.

*Definition: twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) The twenty-foot equivalent unit (abbreviated TEU or teu) is an inexact unit of cargo capacity, often used for container ships and container ports.It is based on the volume of a 20-foot-long (6.1 m) intermodal container, a standard-sized metal box which can be easily transferred between different modes of transportation, such as ships, trains, and trucks,
Source: Wikipedia

 

The data used in this infographic comes from Alcott Global, a logistics consultancy. Fleet sizes are as of June 2021, while TEU capacity is from January 2022.

At the time of this article – the 4th quarter of 2022 – the latest figures show that MSC has surpassed Maersk in volume of TEU capacity. Our ranking graphic uses the metric of the number of ships in the fleet.

Rounding out our top ten list below, the top two MSC and Maersk are a number of lesser known Asian and European based shipping companies. When we examine the history behind these great freight carriers, we frequently see a common history of simple origins followed by a succession of acquisitions of other, minor regional shipping companies. Their fleet of ships and routes are absorbed under the banner of the parent company.

1) Maersk

Not only does Maersk top the list of world’s largest shipping companies, it also stands as Denmark’s number three biggest company according to market capitalization. The A. P. Moller-Maersk Group is a Danish conglomerate with the shipping branch known most commonly as Maersk.

History
The A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group originated as the Danish shipping company Dampskibsselskabet Svendborg founded in 1904 in the city of Svendborg by Captain Peter Mærsk-Møller and his son AP Meller. One of the sons of AP, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller became the CEO of the company following his father;s passing. Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller served as the chairman of the Maersk company into his 90s and was a managing owner until the time of his death in 2006.

Mærsk provides shipping services all over the globe with operations in 374 ports in 116 different countries. In figures from 2019, Maersk employed 83,625 people; of which 18,398 were ship crew and the remaining 65,227 employees were processing and operations staff in shipping offices and port facilities.

The Maersk Line consists of over 708 shipping vessels of different sizes with a cargo capacity of over 4.1 million TEU.
Source Wikipedia

Key dates in Maersk company history

1999
Maersk made a major acquisition of Safmarine Container Lines (SCL). The South African based company had assets of approximately 50 sea vessels with a fleet of over 80,000 Conex containers The acquisition included a total of ten trades and augmented Maersk Line’s operating line of vessels and routes.

In the same year of 1999, A.P. Moller Group also acquired SeaLand Service Inc, another major international shipping container carrier. This deal increased the A.P. Moller Group fleet by 70 vessels and 200,000 Conex containers.  The deal included other SeaL and Service Inc terminals, offices and agencies as well.

2005
In May of 2005 Maersk purchased shipping carrier P&O Nedlloyd for a reported 2.3 billion euros. P&O Nedlloyd possessed 6% of the global shipping industry market, adding to Maersk’s existing 12% market share.

The newly combined assets comprised approximately 18% of the industry market share. In February 2006, the consolidated shipping entity changed to its new name Maersk LineThis merger brought a fleet of over 160 vessels and a container fleetwith  a capacity of 635,000 TEU. P&O Nedlloyd had a workforce of over 13,000 employees throughout its network in 146 countries.

2021
In March of 2021, Maersk announced its goal of having the world’s first carbon neutral liner ship. The target date is forecast to be launched in 2023, seven years ahead of the earlier date for launch.  Maersk has also purchased eight methanol powered ships from Hyundai Heavy Industries for $1.4 billion to further add to its fleet.

The Maersk Line coverage is truly global in its reach.. The main trade routes of Asia-Europe and Trans-Atlantic lines, Maersk Line also includes substantial routes serving Europe to South America and to Africa.

Daily Maersk launched its flagship concept which provides guaranteed service between manufacturing supply ports located in China and several European based ports in 2011

In addition to their primary trade routes, Maersk also features multiple continental trade lines.These secondary lines include: the Intra-Asia route with MCC Transport, a European route via Seago Lines, and American trade lanes through SeaLand Service.

2) Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC)

The second shipping industry mega-line (and possibly number one in the near future) is the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC). MSC is an international shipping line established in Italy in 1970 by Gianluigi Aponte. MSC has been headquartered in Switzerland since 1978.

MSC is a privately owned company by the Aponte family of Italy. If we are ranking by the number of vessels in its fleet, Maersk occupies the top spot. But in terms of TEU capacity, then MSC has a claim to being the world’s largest container shipping line. The company’s shipping lines truly span the globe as its comprehensive routes extend to all major sea ports in the world.

History

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was founded in 1970 in the Italian port city of Naples. Captain Gianluigi Aponte purchased his first ship, the Patricia, and shortly thereafter,  a second vessel, the Rafaela was added.

The forward thinking Captain Aponte started an early shipping line running between the Mediterranean sea and Somalia. From this humble start, the line expanded through purchases of additional cargo vessels. By 1977, the MSC expanded lines to northern Europe, Africa and across the Indian Ocean. In the same period, in 1978, the corporate headquarters was established in Geneva, Switzerland.

Throughout the 1980s MSC continued to build its fleet and expand its shipping lines. A key part of this expansion were lines operating to North America and Australia.

World’s Largest Container ship
An interesting fact: In January of  2015, MSC launched the world’s largest container ship, MSC Oscar. This Olympic class Container ship has a length of  395.4 m (1,297 ft). Its capacity is an impressive 19,224 TEU – the equivalent of 1,800 refrigerated cargo containers.



Most of the goods that we use in our everyday lives – like the very smartphone you are using to read this article – were manufactured in another country, loaded into a Conex shipping container, and shipped across the ocean on a massive container ship and unloaded at a shipping container port near your city.

It should be no surprise that nearly 80% of all consumer goods are transported by sea by a small number of major international shipping container companies. Major shipping companies that host fleets of hundreds of ocean going vessels and the innumerable steel cargo containers that they carry on transoceanic voyages to the consumer markets in the USA and other countries.  cargo containers for sale

You have likely seen photos of enormous freight liners carrying Conex containers with names such as Maersk, COSCO Shipping, and Evergreen being unloaded at coastal cargo ports. This article is about these major container shipping companies and a little background on the history of the 5 biggest shipping companies.

The size of the largest container shipping companies are measured according to two criteria:
!) The number of container ships in the company’s fleet
2) The company’s volume of TEUs* – an industry term that measures the volume of goods that may be transported inside a standard 20 ft Conex container.

*Definition: twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) The twenty-foot equivalent unit (abbreviated TEU or teu) is an inexact unit of cargo capacity, often used for container ships and container ports.It is based on the volume of a 20-foot-long (6.1 m) intermodal container, a standard-sized metal box which can be easily transferred between different modes of transportation, such as ships, trains, and trucks,
Source: Wikipedia

 

The data used in this infographic comes from Alcott Global, a logistics consultancy. Fleet sizes are as of June 2021, while TEU capacity is from January 2022.

At the time of this article – the 4th quarter of 2022 – the latest figures show that MSC has surpassed Maersk in volume of TEU capacity. Our ranking graphic uses the metric of the number of ships in the fleet.

Rounding out our top ten list below, the top two MSC and Maersk are a number of lesser known Asian and European based shipping companies. When we examine the history behind these great freight carriers, we frequently see a common history of simple origins followed by a succession of acquisitions of other, minor regional shipping companies. Their fleet of ships and routes are absorbed under the banner of the parent company.

1) Maersk

Not only does Maersk top the list of world’s largest shipping companies, it also stands as Denmark’s number three biggest company according to market capitalization. The A. P. Moller-Maersk Group is a Danish conglomerate with the shipping branch known most commonly as Maersk.

History
The A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group originated as the Danish shipping company Dampskibsselskabet Svendborg founded in 1904 in the city of Svendborg by Captain Peter Mærsk-Møller and his son AP Meller. One of the sons of AP, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller became the CEO of the company following his father;s passing. Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller served as the chairman of the Maersk company into his 90s and was a managing owner until the time of his death in 2006.

Mærsk provides shipping services all over the globe with operations in 374 ports in 116 different countries. In figures from 2019, Maersk employed 83,625 people; of which 18,398 were ship crew and the remaining 65,227 employees were processing and operations staff in shipping offices and port facilities.

The Maersk Line consists of over 708 shipping vessels of different sizes with a cargo capacity of over 4.1 million TEU.
Source Wikipedia

Key dates in Maersk company history

1999
Maersk made a major acquisition of Safmarine Container Lines (SCL). The South African based company had assets of approximately 50 sea vessels with a fleet of over 80,000 Conex containers The acquisition included a total of ten trades and augmented Maersk Line’s operating line of vessels and routes.

In the same year of 1999, A.P. Moller Group also acquired SeaLand Service Inc, another major international shipping container carrier. This deal increased the A.P. Moller Group fleet by 70 vessels and 200,000 Conex containers.  The deal included other SeaL and Service Inc terminals, offices and agencies as well.

2005
In May of 2005 Maersk purchased shipping carrier P&O Nedlloyd for a reported 2.3 billion euros. P&O Nedlloyd possessed 6% of the global shipping industry market, adding to Maersk’s existing 12% market share.

The newly combined assets comprised approximately 18% of the industry market share. In February 2006, the consolidated shipping entity changed to its new name Maersk LineThis merger brought a fleet of over 160 vessels and a container fleetwith  a capacity of 635,000 TEU. P&O Nedlloyd had a workforce of over 13,000 employees throughout its network in 146 countries.

2021
In March of 2021, Maersk announced its goal of having the world’s first carbon neutral liner ship. The target date is forecast to be launched in 2023, seven years ahead of the earlier date for launch.  Maersk has also purchased eight methanol powered ships from Hyundai Heavy Industries for $1.4 billion to further add to its fleet.

The Maersk Line coverage is truly global in its reach.. The main trade routes of Asia-Europe and Trans-Atlantic lines, Maersk Line also includes substantial routes serving Europe to South America and to Africa.

Daily Maersk launched its flagship concept which provides guaranteed service between manufacturing supply ports located in China and several European based ports in 2011

In addition to their primary trade routes, Maersk also features multiple continental trade lines.These secondary lines include: the Intra-Asia route with MCC Transport, a European route via Seago Lines, and American trade lanes through SeaLand Service.

2) Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC)

The second shipping industry mega-line (and possibly number one in the near future) is the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC). MSC is an international shipping line established in Italy in 1970 by Gianluigi Aponte. MSC has been headquartered in Switzerland since 1978.

MSC is a privately owned company by the Aponte family of Italy. If we are ranking by the number of vessels in its fleet, Maersk occupies the top spot. But in terms of TEU capacity, then MSC has a claim to being the world’s largest container shipping line. The company’s shipping lines truly span the globe as its comprehensive routes extend to all major sea ports in the world.

History

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was founded in 1970 in the Italian port city of Naples. Captain Gianluigi Aponte purchased his first ship, the Patricia, and shortly thereafter,  a second vessel, the Rafaela was added.

The forward thinking Captain Aponte started an early shipping line running between the Mediterranean sea and Somalia. From this humble start, the line expanded through purchases of additional cargo vessels. By 1977, the MSC expanded lines to northern Europe, Africa and across the Indian Ocean. In the same period, in 1978, the corporate headquarters was established in Geneva, Switzerland.

Throughout the 1980s MSC continued to build its fleet and expand its shipping lines. A key part of this expansion were lines operating to North America and Australia.

World’s Largest Container ship
An interesting fact: In January of  2015, MSC launched the world’s largest container ship, MSC Oscar. This Olympic class Container ship has a length of  395.4 m (1,297 ft). Its capacity is an impressive 19,224 TEU – the equivalent of 1,800 refrigerated cargo containers.

The MSC Oscar was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and registered in Panama.
1988
MSC adds a subsidiary in the cruise business following its acquisition of cruise liner the Monterey. MSC assumed control over the Lauro cruise line adding to its fleet.With two more cruise ships,the Rhapsody and Melody, added to the fleet, another branch, MSC Cruises, was officially established as a subsidiary of the parent MSC Group.

2021
Present day, MSC’s fleet consists of  570 container vessels with a freight capacity of 3,920,784 (TEU).The cruise ship division named MSC Cruises is a holiday cruise line based in Geneva, with operations offices in Naples, Genoa and Venice.

3) COSCO Shipping

China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, aka COSCO Shipping, is a state owned Chinese  shipping company that is headquartered in one of the world’s largest container ports, Shanghai. COSCO Shipping was created in January 2016 due to the merger of the COSCO Group and China Shipping Group.

At the time of March 2020, the COSCO fleet was ranked among the largest in the world numbering 1310 ships with a (TEU) volume capacity of 105.92 million.

In addition to its large fleet of vessels the Chinese operated COSCO own terminal properties in five U.S. shipping ports. The largest example of Chinese owned terminals in US ports might be  Terminal 30 in the Port of Seattle. Two COSCO companies have a 33.33 ownership.percentage.

History

January 2016
The CCP approved the merger of China Shipping and COSCO lines, creating the entity of COSCO Shipping. With the merger of the two shipping giants, the new COSCO conglomerate was able to reap the benefits of a greater economy of scale.Reportedly the merger was spurred by the Chinese government’s business strategy to restructure the CCP-owned shipping operations.

 

4) CMA CGM S.A. is a French container shipping company based in ]IMarseille, France. CMA CGM is ranked as the the world’s 4th biggest container shipping company. At the time of this writing, CMA CGM operates 257 shipping routes between 420 ports spanning 160 countries. The name CMA CGM is a combination of the names of it’s two parent companies, the Compagnie Maritime d’Affrètement (CMA) and Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM). Translated from the original French, the names mean the “Maritime Freighting Company” and the “General Maritime Company” respectively.

History
The origin of the CMA CGM shipping company may be traced back to the middle of the 1800’s. Two major French container shipping companies were created: the Messageries Maritimes (MM) around 1851 and the Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM) in 1855.

The two companies were formed partly with the assistance of the French government, with the primary function to deliver mail  to various nations within the French colonies. The routes also serviced overseas territories and other foreign countries.

In the period following the end of the two World Wars, the MM and CGM became “State owned corporations of the competitive sector” i.e. companies that, while owned by the State, were run as private for-profit businesses operating in competitive markets.” source: Wikipedia

1974
Prime Minister Jacques Chirac and the French government eventually merged the two companies during the years of 1974 to 1977 to ultimately form the Compagnie Générale Maritime CGM.

The CGM (Compagnie Générale Maritime) ran in this capacity during the years from 1974 to 1996.  In 1996 it was officially privatized by the French government of President Chirac and Prime Minister Alain Juppé.

1996
Over the 22 years of operating the freight and container transport services in multiple international trade routes, CGM ran a fleet of dry bulk ships, and a number of oil tankers and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tankers. At the time, the company headquarters were located in the suburbs of Paris , initially in Paris-La Defense, then later shifting to Suresnes.

5) Hapag-Lloyd
The German based Hapag-Lloyd shipping company comes in at number 5 on our list of the world’s largest container shipping companies.Hapag-Lloyd was created in 1970 when the Hamburg-American Line (HAPAG) and North German Lloyd were merged under the new entity of Hapag-Lloyd AG.

Hapag-Lloyd AG boasts an impressive fleet of 253 vessels with a cargo volume 11.9 million TEU transported per annum. The company counts more than 400 offices located in 137 countries.

History
1847: The creation of the Hapag-Lloyd AG shipping company originates back inthe 19th century, when the parent companies of Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft (Hapag) and the North German Lloyd shipping company started their first general cargo and passenger routes to New York, USA.

  1. Hapag-Lloyd expands its container fleet by adding 300,000 TEU. in capacity. The company ordered six new mega-ships of 23,500+ TEU to help meet the demand for increased shipping following the global pandemic.. By year end of 2021, Hapag-Lloyd’s shipping fleet comprises 253 vessels with a total transport capacity of 1.8 million TEU.

The future of the global container shipping industry

What will be the trends and innovations in the coming years in the global container shipping industry? Will major lines continue to grow  by acquiring monitor carriers? Will the global emphasis on green energy be a catalyst for new developments in technology? Check back on conexdepot.com for more articles on the container shipping industry.

 

ART5

Top Mistakes In Buying A Shipping Container

You have made the decision to join the thousands of Americans who have bought a used shipping container for their business idea, building project, or home storage. Before you pull out your credit card and buy your container, have a read of the most common mistakes people make when buying a shipping container.

Paying attention to these potential pitfalls could save you some grief down the road.

1- Picking the wrong container for your needs 

The biggest mistake is selecting the wrong size or grade of container for your needs. What if you underestimate the amount of stuff that you need to store in your container? What if you pick a container that results in blowing your budget when you could have saved money by choosing a cheaper container?

This bears looking into further, as there are a number of factors that you need to carefully consider before plunking down your money. You want to avoid prematurely picking a used shipping container only to have buyer’s regret after it’s in your possession and it isn’t really doing the job for you.

Before settling on a steel cargo container, it is important to determine the job of your container.



Local Economy of Shipping Containers in Chicago

Chicago is a major inland shipping container depot location and transportation hub where intermodal Conex boxes are transported both by rail and road throughout the city. Chicago is geographically centrally located in the MidWest and its extensive network of both railroad freight routes and interstate highway system make Chicago one of the most significant hubs for container shipping in the USA.The Conex Depot Chicago container storage facility is located at ZIP 60609 in New City, north of W 47th Street.

Popular Shipping Containers Uses in Chicago

Buy Shipping Containers in Chicago. Buy a shipping container from Conex Depot, with all different sizes of both new and used cargo containers for sale. Conex Depot sells to both individuals and to businesses in the greater Chicago region and in 38 cities all over the USA. Its easy to contact us and buy a used shipping container direct from Conex Depot in Chicago. You can save money and time shopping around by talking to one of our ConexDepot service representatives online.

Chicago shipping container projects and shipping container related businesses

Chicago shipping container restaurants. Fulton Market’s Recess at City Hall is 14,500-square-foot shipping container restaurant complex and outdoor patio located in the West Loop neighborhood.
The new bar and restaurant has a city hall theme where customers share large-format cocktails served in shipping containers for sale Atlanta water coolers just like down at the office. The tongue in cheek government theme includes business cards that resemble social security cards and the menus come in manilla folders. Check out Recess at City Hall at 838 West Kinzie Street.

An article on Chicago Business shares how Chicago architect Katherine Darnstadt and her firm Latent Design is helping entrepreneurs by converting cargo containers into micro stores for small business startups and pop-ups.
With ventures in Chatham, Englewood and Austin, the Conex box business concept is called “Boomboxes”. The temporary business spaces provide a way for new, small businesses to get started, build their customer following and generate some sales with a low start up cost. Food retailer Schweet Cheesecake operated in the Boombox repurposed Conex container store in Austin. The small food service shop was setup in an empty city-owned lot in a commercial district. The owner built up their customer list and made valuable contacts in the neighborhood.The initial Boombox container store opened in 2015 in Wicker Park. Austin, with more Boomboxes later in Englewood and Chatham – all occupying land owned by city agencies. The renovated sea containers, measure 8-by-20-foot with finished walls and utilities connected. Cargo Food Authority is a food court built out of repurposed shipping containers in the Wrigleyville neighborhood. Diners will find a variety food stalls and kitchens that serve the type of casual foods similar to those sold in popular food trucks – like fried chicken, poke bowls, burgers, grilled cheese, ramen and “pizza-stuffed burritos”. The food hall will also contain a bar serving craft beer and draft cocktails and a pitching cage and a collection of Chicago sports memorabilia. The Wrigleyville location is located on the corner of Addison and Clark Streets (directly across from Wrigley Field) Pop-up shipping container stores in West Loop. A temporary retail market with stores housed in renovated shipping containers will feature a changing lineup of local entrepreneurs and businesses selling a variety of products. The complex will have an Equinox athletic court and the Haymarket beer garden by the nearby Haymarket Pub. Monthly vendor leases are expected to run about $1,000, making these small shipping container shops ideal for the new entrepreneur.

Shipping container home developments

Shipping container apartments and Tiny homes in Chicago A feature in the Chicago Tribune tells the story of a Chicago couple – the Evanses – who operate a Chicago construction business. The couple turned seven, old steel shipping containers into a shipping container house that they call “Super Bad”. Building the 3,200-square-foot, three bedroom, 3½-bath home house out of old Conex boxes was a three-year process. Chicago BusinessHouse made of shipping containers in Westmont. The second shipping container home in the Chicago area is on a lot on 55th Street in the western suburb, is a hybrid of a container home and traditional construction. The Intermodal container home is built on a lot that measures a third of an acre on 55th Street. Cranes lifted the containers into place, which rest on a concrete foundation. The plans required two 40-foot shipping containers and one-and-a-half 20-footer cargo boxes with eight-foot ceilings (dictated by the height of the shipping containers). About half the house is a conventional wood frame construction.

Chicago Railroad Conex container shipping routes

Chicago is said to be the biggest railroad container shipping center in the USA with more major railroads routed through Chicago than any other U.S. city. Six out of the seven the largest Class I Railroads in the U.S. run through the Chicago area. More lines of track radiate in all points on the compass from Chicago than from any other USA city. The most important yards are Proviso and Bensenville in the west of the city, Clearing Yard in Bedford Park, Barr and Blue Island Yards on the far South Side, and Corwith Yard near the Stevenson Expressway.

The most important railroads for cargo container shipping in Chicago are the Class 1 railroads CSX Transportation, BNSF Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, Norfolk Southern Railway , Chicago Port Railroad, Belt Railway of Chicago, Canadian Pacific Railway and many other railroads carrying shipping containers in Chicago.

The Port of Chicago

The Port of Chicago is located on the Chicago River on Lake Michigan and is operated by the Illinois International Port District,
The Port of Chicago’s central location in the Mid West have historically made it a key distribution point for intermodal container shipping. Six of the USA’s major railroads and five federal highways intersect in the Port of Chicago.. The Port of Chicago links the inland river system and the Great Lakes to the world’s markets with major sea container shipping traffic.

Chicago main export businesses that use shipping containers:

Light petroleum oils: US$1.9 billion, Antisera, other blood fractions: $1.65 billion, Off-highway dumper trucks: $1.6 billion, Miscellaneous medications: $1.5 billion, Modems, similar reception/transmission devices: $1.4 billion, Cell phones: $1.2 billion, Aircraft including engines, parts: $1.1 billion, Corn: $946 million, Miscellaneous motor vehicle parts: $887 million, Soya beans: $812 million. Many of Chicago’s largest companies employ shipping containers in their business”. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Boeing, Archer Daniels Midland, Caterpillar, United Airlines, Exelon, Deere, Mondelez International, AbbVie, McDonald’s

Chicago shipping container storage and container office.

Home and business owners can buy their own Repurposed Shipping Containers in Chicago for use as temporary offices. Mobile shipping container offices are used for multiple different needs:Most larger construction developments require a temporary construction office – an ideal use for a repurposed shipping container. The movable container box office provides a convenient place to have construction crew meetings and storage space for files and plans needed on-site. Break Rooms and Cafeteria: A container office may also be used as a break or lunch room for workers who need shelter from the weather. Businesses sometimes need temporary space for operations while having work done on your building that has adequate security for business assets and property. During a renovation when your business needs to temporarily hold items to be transported later or thrown away at a later time.

 

Using Cargo storage containers for self storage in Chicago

A very popular use for various sizes of steel shipping containers in Chicago is self storage.
Consumers usually either buy a used shipping container or rent one from a Chicago shipping container seller and store it on their property or rent a space to park the storage container. Conex Depot specializes in the sale of shipping and storage containers in the Metro Chicago area and can give you advice and pricing on the best size of shipping container for your personal storage or business storage needs. Whether you need a storage container for keeping inventory, securing construction materials, or storing furniture during a remodeling project, we have a number of storage solutions that will meet your needs.

Conex Depot offers all sizes and grades of shipping containers for sale in Chicago. Our sales team offer free project advice and the very best pricing on quality new and used shipping containers. Call now: (661) 412-2227.


Boston, Massachusetts is a located in America’s northeastern region New England and is a coastal deep water port and shipping container depot location and transportation hub where intermodal Conex boxes are transported both by rail and road throughout the city. Boston’s extensive network of both railroad freight routes and interstate highway system make Boston a hub for container shipping in the USA. Conex Depot stock shipping containers at two Boston storage facilities. The main depot is located at Mansfield at zip code 02048. The second is off the 122A in Worcester, MA.

Boston Shipping Container Construction Projects

The Boston and Providence based architecture and construction firm Stack + Co deals with custom designed cargo container projects that make us rethink how used shipping containers for sale Charleston may be repurposed. Intermodal containers are used to create prefabricated manufactured workspaces, which are renovated offsite and then transported onsite for easy assembly and use.


Sweet & Salty Farm – a 3,000 square-foot farm put together of three different container systems with two large pieces. The modular container spaces are home to a milking parlor for the dairy cows and the special cheese making space. The black barn features high temperature control areas that control the heating and cooling required for the ‘cheese cave’ – a cheese aging room and walk-in freezer to store the product.
The Warp House is what the developers named the 1,800 square-foot sized container home in a rural area of Wellfleet on Cape Cod. Warp House is comprised of three separate pieces which were initially renovated off site and transported on a truck to the site where a crane maneuvered them in place before finally assembly.


The Box Office, a fifteen thousand square-foot commercial building built using used shipping containers has been cleverly named The Box Office. This shipping container office is constructed of sea containers that were modified offsite and placed at the project site in the short time of just three days. The Box Office in Providence and was the first multi-story shipping container building in the United States.

The Port of Boston has come a long way since the Boston Tea Party incident in 1773, when group of Massachusetts colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded 3 British ships carrying tea and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. The Port of Boston is now the largest seaport in Massachusetts and is located in Boston Harbor, adjacent to the City of Boston. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates the port, which includes a major container shipping facility in South Boston, and Logan International Airport, in East Boston. The Port, situated on the Mystic River, along the city of Everett waterfront is well equipped to handle bulk cargo, petroleum, and LNG shipment and storage. At present, the principal cargo handling facilities are located in the Boston areas of Charlestown, East Boston, and South Boston, and in the neighboring city of Everett. In 2011, the port handled over 11.5 million metric tons of cargo, including 192,000 container TEUs. Other major forms of cargo processed at the port include petroleum, liquefied natural gas (LNG), automobiles, cement, gypsum, and salt.

Major shipping container terminals at the Port of Boston:

The Conley Terminal is the container facility for the Port of Boston. Conley Terminal is notable for being capable of handling Panamax and post-Panamax container ships.

Boston Railroad Conex Intermodal Shipping Routes:

CSX is the only class I railroad serving the Boston area, reached by the Boston Subdivision line to Springfield, and by trackage rights over the Northeast Corridor. CSX also has trackage rights over much of the southern half of the MBTA’s commuter rail network. The other significant shipping container freight railroad in the Boston area is Pan Am Railways (PAR; formerly known as the Guilford Rail System).

Boston Shipping Container Exports

The top 10 exports from Massachusetts are: Gold, Medical/dental/veterinarian instruments, natural gas, machinery for making semi-conductors,liquid filters, purification machines, aircraft including engines and parts, integrated circuits, non-pharmaceutical composite diagnostic/lab reagents, electro-diagnostic equipment and radar apparatus. Many of Boston’s largest companies employ shipping containers in their business. These include General Electric, TJX Companies, National Amusements, The Enterprise, Stop & Shop, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Raytheon and Staples.

Boston Shipping Container Restaurants

Eater.com reports that Boston shipping container restaurants are set to open in Boston’s Seaport District. The Innovation and Design Building is located between 19 and 25 Drydock Ave and will host eight small businesses operating out of customized Conex containers. Each restaurant is responsible for the final set up and for customizing their own spaces.The small businesses include shipping container restaurants such as: Triangle Coffee, Jubali, Mei Mei, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, and Yankee Lobster. The use of recycled shipping containers fit the philosophy and sustainability project by having a minimal environmental footprint. In addition to the food services the complex will also house Cut-Splice – a hair salon, a hardware supply and general store named Drydock Exchange and Niche Urban Garden Supply.

Boston Shipping Container Self-Storage

Buying a new or used shipping container is an ideal storage solution for both individuals and businesses in Boston. Various sizes and grades of steel shipping containers are on hand in Boston and available for immediate delivery. Conex Depot specializes in the sale of shipping and storage containers in the Metro Boston area and can give you advice and pricing on the best size of shipping container for your personal storage or business storage needs. Whether you need a storage container for keeping inventory, securing construction materials, or storing furniture during a remodeling project, we have a number of storage solutions that will meet your needs.

Conex Depot offers all sizes and grades of shipping containers for sale in Boston. Our sales team offer free project advice and the very best pricing on quality new and used shipping containers. Call now: (661) 412-2227.


Local Economy of Shipping Containers in Chicago

Chicago is a major inland shipping container depot location and transportation hub where intermodal Conex boxes are transported both by rail and road throughout the city. Chicago is geographically centrally located in the MidWest and its extensive network of both railroad freight routes and interstate highway system make Chicago one of the most significant hubs for container shipping in the USA.The Conex Depot Chicago container storage facility is located at ZIP 60609 in New City, north of W 47th Street.

Popular Shipping Containers Uses in Chicago

Buy Shipping Containers in Chicago. Buy a shipping container from Conex Depot, with all different sizes of both new and used cargo containers for sale. Conex Depot sells to both individuals and to businesses in the greater Chicago region and in 38 cities all over the USA. Its easy to contact us and buy a used shipping containers for sale Atlanta direct from Conex Depot in Chicago. You can save money and time shopping around by talking to one of our ConexDepot service representatives online.

Chicago shipping container projects and shipping container related businesses

Chicago shipping container restaurants. Fulton Market’s Recess at City Hall is 14,500-square-foot shipping container restaurant complex and outdoor patio located in the West Loop neighborhood.
The new bar and restaurant has a city hall theme where customers share large-format cocktails served in water coolers just like down at the office. The tongue in cheek government theme includes business cards that resemble social security cards and the menus come in manilla folders. Check out Recess at City Hall at 838 West Kinzie Street.

An article on Chicago Business shares how Chicago architect Katherine Darnstadt and her firm Latent Design is helping entrepreneurs by converting cargo containers into micro stores for small business startups and pop-ups.
With ventures in Chatham, Englewood and Austin, the Conex box business concept is called “Boomboxes”. The temporary business spaces provide a way for new, small businesses to get started, build their customer following and generate some sales with a low start up cost. Food retailer Schweet Cheesecake operated in the Boombox repurposed Conex container store in Austin. The small food service shop was setup in an empty city-owned lot in a commercial district. The owner built up their customer list and made valuable contacts in the neighborhood.The initial Boombox container store opened in 2015 in Wicker Park. Austin, with more Boomboxes later in Englewood and Chatham – all occupying land owned by city agencies. The renovated sea containers, measure 8-by-20-foot with finished walls and utilities connected. Cargo Food Authority is a food court built out of repurposed shipping containers in the Wrigleyville neighborhood. Diners will find a variety food stalls and kitchens that serve the type of casual foods similar to those sold in popular food trucks – like fried chicken, poke bowls, burgers, grilled cheese, ramen and “pizza-stuffed burritos”. The food hall will also contain a bar serving craft beer and draft cocktails and a pitching cage and a collection of Chicago sports memorabilia. The Wrigleyville location is located on the corner of Addison and Clark Streets (directly across from Wrigley Field) Pop-up shipping container stores in West Loop. A temporary retail market with stores housed in renovated shipping containers will feature a changing lineup of local entrepreneurs and businesses selling a variety of products. The complex will have an Equinox athletic court and the Haymarket beer garden by the nearby Haymarket Pub. Monthly vendor leases are expected to run about $1,000, making these small shipping container shops ideal for the new entrepreneur.

Shipping container home developments

Shipping container apartments and Tiny homes in Chicago A feature in the Chicago Tribune tells the story of a Chicago couple – the Evanses – who operate a Chicago construction business. The couple turned seven, old steel shipping containers into a shipping container house that they call “Super Bad”. Building the 3,200-square-foot, three bedroom, 3½-bath home house out of old Conex boxes was a three-year process. Chicago BusinessHouse made of shipping containers in Westmont. The second shipping container home in the Chicago area is on a lot on 55th Street in the western suburb, is a hybrid of a container home and traditional construction. The Intermodal container home is built on a lot that measures a third of an acre on 55th Street. Cranes lifted the containers into place, which rest on a concrete foundation. The plans required two 40-foot shipping containers and one-and-a-half 20-footer cargo boxes with eight-foot ceilings (dictated by the height of the shipping containers). About half the house is a conventional wood frame construction.

Chicago Railroad Conex container shipping routes

Chicago is said to be the biggest railroad container shipping center in the USA with more major railroads routed through Chicago than any other U.S. city. Six out of the seven the largest Class I Railroads in the U.S. run through the Chicago area. More lines of track radiate in all points on the compass from Chicago than from any other USA city. The most important yards are Proviso and Bensenville in the west of the city, Clearing Yard in Bedford Park, Barr and Blue Island Yards on the far South Side, and Corwith Yard near the Stevenson Expressway.

The most important railroads for cargo container shipping in Chicago are the Class 1 railroads CSX Transportation, BNSF Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, Norfolk Southern Railway , Chicago Port Railroad, Belt Railway of Chicago, Canadian Pacific Railway and many other railroads carrying shipping containers in Chicago.

The Port of Chicago

The Port of Chicago is located on the Chicago River on Lake Michigan and is operated by the Illinois International Port District,
The Port of Chicago’s central location in the Mid West have historically made it a key distribution point for intermodal container shipping. Six of the USA’s major railroads and five federal highways intersect in the Port of Chicago.. The Port of Chicago links the inland river system and the Great Lakes to the world’s markets with major sea container shipping traffic.

Chicago main export businesses that use shipping containers:

Light petroleum oils: US$1.9 billion, Antisera, other blood fractions: $1.65 billion, Off-highway dumper trucks: $1.6 billion, Miscellaneous medications: $1.5 billion, Modems, similar reception/transmission devices: $1.4 billion, Cell phones: $1.2 billion, Aircraft including engines, parts: $1.1 billion, Corn: $946 million, Miscellaneous motor vehicle parts: $887 million, Soya beans: $812 million. Many of Chicago’s largest companies employ shipping containers in their business”. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Boeing, Archer Daniels Midland, Caterpillar, United Airlines, Exelon, Deere, Mondelez International, AbbVie, McDonald’s

Chicago shipping container storage and container office.

Home and business owners can buy their own Repurposed Shipping Containers in Chicago for use as temporary offices. Mobile shipping container offices are used for multiple different needs:Most larger construction developments require a temporary construction office – an ideal use for a repurposed shipping container. The movable container box office provides a convenient place to have construction crew meetings and storage space for files and plans needed on-site. Break Rooms and Cafeteria: A container office may also be used as a break or lunch room for workers who need shelter from the weather. Businesses sometimes need temporary space for operations while having work done on your building that has adequate security for business assets and property. During a renovation when your business needs to temporarily hold items to be transported later or thrown away at a later time.

 

Using Cargo storage containers for self storage in Chicago

A very popular use for various sizes of steel shipping containers in Chicago is self storage.
Consumers usually either buy a used shipping container or rent one from a Chicago shipping container seller and store it on their property or rent a space to park the storage container. Conex Depot specializes in the sale of shipping and storage containers in the Metro Chicago area and can give you advice and pricing on the best size of shipping container for your personal storage or business storage needs. Whether you need a storage container for keeping inventory, securing construction materials, or storing furniture during a remodeling project, we have a number of storage solutions that will meet your needs.

Conex Depot offers all sizes and grades of shipping containers for sale in Chicago. Our sales team offer free project advice and the very best pricing on quality new and used shipping containers. Call now: (661) 412-2227.

Atlanta is an inland shipping container depot location and transportation hub where intermodal Conex boxes are transported both by rail and road throughout the city. Atlanta is geographically located in the Southeast USA and its extensive network of both railroad freight routes and interstate highway system make Atlanta a hub for container shipping in the USA. The Conex Depot Atlanta container storage facility is located at ZIP 30315 South of the 42 and South Atlanta and Lakewood Heights.


Atlanta Shipping Container Construction Projects:


“Plug-In-Pods” – Atlanta affordable housing project made out of cargo containers Shipping containers offer affordable housing, entrepreneurial space alternative. An Atlanta-based, nonprofit named ReJuve, recently launched “Plug-In-Pods”, steel wwt shipping containers repurposed as affordable housing and business spaces in low-income communities. Plug-In-Pods started as a crowdfunding campaign to build a prototype, eventually resulting in a contract in the 31-acre Pittsburgh Yards development located in the Southside BeltLine corridor.


The Annie E. Casey Foundation engaged ReJuve to create two Plug-In-Pods container buildings for the mixed-use Pittsburgh Yards project located in Southwest Atlanta. The 2 pods are designated for storage and the other is set to be an office space. An outdoor community meeting space is set for courtyard between the two pods.


Building contractors see shipping container buildings as an attractive option as a site can be quickly activated with the pods, immediately start to generate income and remains easily movable if needed to make way for future development. Some estimates say that a space may be built in half the time and half the cost of construction of a conventional building.


Atlanta Shipping Container Restaurants:


Food and restaurant guide book Zagat reports that new restaurants in Atlanta are looking at converting shipping containers into food and beverage vendors. The reduced cost compared to building a new bricks and mortar space being one of the biggest benefits of building with repurposed Conex containers. In 2014, Delia’s Chicken Sausage Stand opened its second location, on Marietta Street in which the entire second floor is built from a Conex container.

An Atlanta based barbecue restaurant named Fox Bros. Bar-B-Que opened the humorously named “Que-Osk” situated in the Armour Yards complex, close to the Fox’s catering operation. Opened in 2015, shipping container bar 8Arm is a unique and cool place to enjoy a drink. The owners renovated a used cargo container and created a bar serving alcoholic beverages. Cost was the number one reason why the owners of 8Arm decided to build a business in the shipping container, with ease of relocation being another key benefit. “I wanted something that I can take with us should the restaurant should ever close” an owner explained.


Shipping Container Home Developments and Tiny Homes in Atlanta:


The Atlanta area is an ideal location for shipping container homes due to the fact that it has a mild climate. The local conditions require that houses be cool in the summer with adequate insulation during the cooler winter months. Because empty Conex boxes are easily transportable, a shipping container home may be deployed even in more remote, rural locations with the convenience of a fully functional home – either for urban or rural living. Another advantage of Conex container homes is that (unlike in conventional home building) the renovation and conversion of the Conex box to a home may be done in an urban location and then transported to where it will reside. Alternately, the containers can be customized in an industrial area and then have them relocated in ready to live in condition to the housing lot in the city.


One Atlanta resident saw old shipping containers converted into homes and was inspired to build his own dream home. “Because it’s such a transportation hub, there are several places to find used sea containers around Atlanta” said Glen Donaldson. Donaldson found an affordable lot in an area zoned to permit modern houses, he then found the architect who could design using a sea container and set about designing the home he envisioned. Buying the shipping containers was the easy part of the project as there are numerous places to buy a shipping container in Atlanta. A three-story townhome with a drive-under garage was constructed out of 6 high-cube containers, with a height of 9.6 feet, allowing for rooms with more spacious high ceilings compared to the standard 8.6 foot containers.


The State of Georgia Department of Transportation in their Statewide Freight & Logistics Action Plan 2010-2050, organized state of Georgia’s highway network into corridor categories. The priority freight is transported on the Interstate System and is separated into seven corridors.


Most of these corridors intersect within the City of Atlanta: Savannah-to-Atlanta Corridor, Atlanta-to-Tennessee Corridor Gateway to the Midwest, Atlanta-to-South Carolina Corridor Gateway to the Mid Atlantic and Midwest, Macon-to-Florida Corridor Connection and the Atlanta-to-Alabama Corridor.


Atlanta railroads Statistics on Shipping Container movement according to the ACCG figures in 2012 – Number of railroads: 23 (U.S. rank: 13th), Miles of railroad: 4,700 (U.S. rank: 7th), Tons carried by rail: 196.5 million (U.S. rank: 15th). There are major rail yards in Atlanta, East Savannah, Waycross and Intermodal terminals in Atlanta, Savannah and Fairburn. Atlanta’s main export businesses that utilize shipping containers Transportation Equipment Manufacturing, Air Transportation, Merchant Wholesalers and non-durable Goods. The top ranking countries for Atlanta exports are: Brazil, China and Mexico.


Georgia ranks among America’s 15 biggest exporters by state behind front- runners including Texas, California, New York and Washington states.Georgia global shipments during 2019 included a diverse range of products including: aviation equipment, gas turbine parts, chemical wood pulp, mid-sized automobiles, kraftliner paper, frozen poultry, natural gas, cotton, modems and other transmission devices.Many of the largest companies in Atlanta utilize cargo shipping containers as part of their operations such as The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, UPS, Cox Enterprises, Georgia-Pacific, NCR Corporation and The Home Depot.


Atlanta Shipping Container Storage:


A very popular use for various sizes of steel shipping containers in Atlanta is residential, commercial and industrial self-storage. Consumers have the choice of buying a new or used shipping container for their storage needs, since long term rental costs are more expensive over time. Conex Depot specializes in the sale of shipping and storage containers in the Metro Atlanta area and can give you advice and pricing on the best size and grade of Conex container for your personal storage or business storage needs. Whether you need a storage container for keeping inventory, securing construction materials, or storing furniture during a remodeling project, we have a number of storage solutions that will meet your needs.


Conex Depot offers all sizes and grades of shipping containers for sale in Atlanta. Our sales team offer free project advice and the very best pricing on quality new and used shipping containers. Call now: (661) 412-2227.

 

So you bought your own shipping container and are using it for storage. One of your first questions now that you are the proud owner of a Conex container is “What do I need to do to take care of and maintain my shipping container?”

 

The good news is that by their very design, shipping containers are constructed out of heavy gauge steel and built to be durable for many years, with minimal maintenance.

How long do shipping containers last?


You can expect to get a minimum of 15-20 years of use from your shipping container. When a Conex container is retired from international cargo shipping service they are resold as wind and water tight units into the storage market or to be repurposed for other uses.

 

With some basic preventative maintenance shipping containers for sale Atlanta and planning, your sea container can easily serve you with a further fifteen or more years of use.

 

Annual inspection of your storage container


Mark your calendar to make an annual inspection of your storage container. Check for any indications of structural rust, especially in the frame parts of the box where water may have collected for any period of time. Inspect the rubber door seals to check for deterioration. Old seals eventually become brittle and won’t maintain a water tight seal. As with anything – if you address any problems early on and perform a minimum level of maintenance – you can save time and money on repairs later. Your local climate will be a factor in what kind of maintenance that you have to perform and the rate at which your container will deteriorate. Anyone who has owned a car in a wet, temperate climate will know that the moisture, snow, and freezing temperatures cause a more rapid deterioration of metal compared to a warm, dry environment (like Arizona for instance).

 

Preventative Maintenance is key 


To help maximize the lifetime of your cargo container storage, we will share a few tips to help maintain your container:

 

Protect against the effects of water and excess moisture


Container condensation or “container rain” is a pretty common thing to monitor during your periodic container inspections. While your sea container is designed to be water tight and prevent moisture from entering from the outside, there is moisture in the air and even contained within the items that you may be storing.

 

“Container rain” is the condensation of the moisture in the air that occurs inside the closed metal structures. An excessive accumulation of condensation can cause serious damage to some types of items (example electronics or paper documents) and can also accelerate the oxidation process (appearance of rust we will discuss later).

 

How does condensation occur inside shipping containers?


The metal walls of shipping containers tend to conduct heat very well. As the air temperature drops outside from day to night time, the steel surfaces of the container walls rapidly cool. Once cooled low enough, the metal surfaces will reach what we know as the ‘dew point’ – the temperature where airborne water vapor condenses back into a liquid again.


When warm, humid air comes into contact with the cool metal container walls, the moisture condenses from a vapor to its liquid state, causing water droplets to from on metal surfaces – most of the condensation collects on the ceiling. In regions of the country where there is a great difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the risk of container rain damaging your stored items is greater.

 

How can we deal with moisture condensation in shipping containers?


There are three main factors to consider to minimize the problem of moisture condensation in your storage container.

1) Reduce the amount of humidity in the conex container


Inspect the container ceilings and walls for visible moisture condensation. Prior to loading the container, examine the interior surfaces to ensure that there is no pooled water and dry any water that may have collected.


Insulation. Insulating the walls of your container can reduce the temperature of the walls dropping to dew point, and therefore eliminating condensation from occurring.


Check out our Guide How To Insulate A Shipping Container 

Installing a Vapor Barrier


A vapor barrier can help reduce excess moisture condensation on the container walls. A vapor barrier is any material used for damp proofing. Commonly a plastic sheet, that prevents diffusion of moisture through the walls, doors or ceiling.

 

Dehumidifiers and air-con units. If you are intending on storing items that are sensitive to the effects of moisture, you may need to consider using more direct solution to cooling and removing humid air. Air conditioners and / or dehumidifier units are effective at maintaining stable, dry conditions for storage containers in problem climates or seasons of the year.

 

For a less costly and lower maintenance method of managing humidity inside the container, you could employ desiccants inside. Desiccants are “hygroscopic substances” which absorb atmospheric moisture.

 

Think of those “Do Not eat” silica gel packets that are usually found inside bottles of food supplements or product packaging. Desiccants are available in a number of forms – most commonly contained in strips hung on the walls or suspended from the ceiling or bags on the floor of the container. The desiccant bags should be replaced every 10 to 12 weeks – depending on the time of year and your local weather conditions.

 

2) Ventilate to allow warm humid air to escape


Ventilation. Consider your environment. If your container will be stored in a climate where there is a significant day/night temperature fluctuation, you may need to employ greater measures to mitigate “container rain”.


Containers are often renovated and fitted with vents to allow air circulation and avoid the build-up of heated air inside the container. This simple step can go a long way to eliminating the effects of condensation.

 

3) Store dry goods to avoid condensation.


Make sure you only store 100% dry goods in the storage box. Be aware that some materials, such as fresh wood, can have an intrinsically high moisture content. This means that moisture from the items themselves can release moisture into the air and can cause humidity levels to rise inside the container.
Avoid placing moisture sensitive objects (like furniture or cardboard boxes) directly in contact with the walls where water droplets are most likely to condense and collect. Be aware that some items (ex. electronics or dried food stuffs or cardboard boxes of paper documents which are susceptible to mold) may be at risk of the effects of moisture build up and plan accordingly.

 

Rust: How to prevent & avoid shipping container rust


Even though Conex containers are designed to be watertight and be used in all weather conditions, they are ultimately made of steel and thus susceptible to the problem of rust.

 

The good news is that most shipping containers are manufactured out of corrosion resistant Cor-Ten steel and we can take measures to protect against the onset of rust and slow its corrosive effects. If you purchased an “as is” container, it is quite likely that a used shipping container has had a lot of exposure to salt water and salt air which all accelerate corrosion. A 1-trip or new container will not have that degree of corrosion.

 

What causes shipping containers to rust?


Rust occurs when iron reacts with oxygen in the air, or chloride in water. Marine grade steel has anti-corrosive properties, but because of the harsh, maritime environments that containers are exposed to, rust will eventually, occur.

When a shipping container is exposed to both oxygen and water – an oxidation chemical reaction occurs. The reaction between the steel, the water, and oxygen creates hydrated iron (III) oxide, which we can experience as rust. Shipping containers can also start to rust if their metal surface sustains any damage during transit. When the container is impacted during loading, the protective coating on the outside of the container may be damaged and bare metal exposed, which creates a foothold for the oxidation reaction to get started.

 

Two different types of shipping container rust


The most obvious rust on the exterior walls of a container would be considered “non-structural” rust as it occurs on the surface of the walls. Surface rust is unsightly, can rub off on and discolor items that come into contact, and will negatively affect the resale value of a container. A visibly rusty container may not pose any danger to its users, but few people want to see (or buy) a rusty steel box.

 

The second (and more insidious) type of container rust is known as “structural rust”.


This more advanced state of corrosion, which has begun to negatively affect the structural integrity of the container). Significant structural rust can render a container unusable for many purposes due to structural instability.


Significant structural rust may prevent the owner from getting the container CSC certified. According to portshippingcontainers.com :


“CSC means ‘Container Safe Convention’ the container is safe for use and is capable of withstanding the sometimes heavy stresses of shipping cargo cross-country and overseas…need to be inspected and certified according to international regulations.”

 

How to treat early signs of rust


Catch small surface rust issues early on when they first appear. If you catch them early enough, the rusted area is easily treated and cleaned away. Spot and repair scrapes, dents, and scratches, should be dealt with before they show signs of rust, to prevent further corrosion damage that could worsen the issue from a non-structural problem to a structural problem.

 

The initial signs of rust should be removed. First prepare the problem area by using a wire brush or sand paper to sand down any visible rusted surfaces.

 

To properly remove the rust, you need to sand right down to bare metal where you can no longer see any signs of rust. After the surface rust has been completely removed, wipe the bare area with vinegar and allow to dry. Once the vinegar has dried, you may apply a layer of rust inhibiting primer or use marine grade DTM (direct to metal) paint to cover the area. If the surface rust problem is more advanced, the remedy is to completely sand blast the exterior container walls and seal and freshly paint the container. For most storage uses, the expensive process sandblasting and completely refurbishing the container is not required.


How do I prepare my container for painting over rust?

 

As a rough guideline – to repaint a 20-foot container you will require four gallons of paint, and need eight gallons to cover a 40-foot container.

 

Prepare your container for primer and/or paint application by first sanding down any visible rust patches. A pressure washer is ideal for washing off any layers of dirt and dust. Sand rust patches down with a wire wheel or sandpaper.

 

It’s a good idea to apply a rust inhibiting primer coat over the area first to ensure the top coat of paint adheres to the metal.


Get the advice of your local paint vendor to determine which primer they stock will be best for outdoors metal surfaces.


Allow enough time for the primer coat to completely dry before applying the final, top coat of paint.

 

What kind of paint should I use for rust proofing my shipping container?


There are a number of options that you can find to suit your needs, paint availability and budget.

 


So you bought your own shipping container and are using it for storage. One of your first questions now that you are the proud owner of a Conex container is “What do I need to do to take care of and maintain my shipping container?”

 

The good news is that by their very design, shipping containers are constructed out of heavy gauge steel and built to be durable for many years, with minimal maintenance.

How long do shipping containers last?


You can expect to get a minimum of 15-20 years of use from your shipping container. When a Conex container is retired from international cargo shipping service they are resold as wind and water tight units into the storage market or to be repurposed for other uses.

 

With some basic preventative maintenance and planning, your sea container can easily serve you with a further 40 high cube container for sale fifteen or more years of use.

 

Annual inspection of your storage container


Mark your calendar to make an annual inspection of your storage container. Check for any indications of structural rust, especially in the frame parts of the box where water may have collected for any period of time. Inspect the rubber door seals to check for deterioration. Old seals eventually become brittle and won’t maintain a water tight seal. As with anything – if you address any problems early on and perform a minimum level of maintenance – you can save time and money on repairs later. Your local climate will be a factor in what kind of maintenance that you have to perform and the rate at which your container will deteriorate. Anyone who has owned a car in a wet, temperate climate will know that the moisture, snow, and freezing temperatures cause a more rapid deterioration of metal compared to a warm, dry environment (like Arizona for instance).

 

Preventative Maintenance is key 


To help maximize the lifetime of your cargo container storage, we will share a few tips to help maintain your container:

 

Protect against the effects of water and excess moisture


Container condensation or “container rain” is a pretty common thing to monitor during your periodic container inspections. While your sea container is designed to be water tight and prevent moisture from entering from the outside, there is moisture in the air and even contained within the items that you may be storing.

 

“Container rain” is the condensation of the moisture in the air that occurs inside the closed metal structures. An excessive accumulation of condensation can cause serious damage to some types of items (example electronics or paper documents) and can also accelerate the oxidation process (appearance of rust we will discuss later).

 

How does condensation occur inside shipping containers?


The metal walls of shipping containers tend to conduct heat very well. As the air temperature drops outside from day to night time, the steel surfaces of the container walls rapidly cool. Once cooled low enough, the metal surfaces will reach what we know as the ‘dew point’ – the temperature where airborne water vapor condenses back into a liquid again.


When warm, humid air comes into contact with the cool metal container walls, the moisture condenses from a vapor to its liquid state, causing water droplets to from on metal surfaces – most of the condensation collects on the ceiling. In regions of the country where there is a great difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the risk of container rain damaging your stored items is greater.

 

How can we deal with moisture condensation in shipping containers?


There are three main factors to consider to minimize the problem of moisture condensation in your storage container.

1) Reduce the amount of humidity in the conex container


Inspect the container ceilings and walls for visible moisture condensation. Prior to loading the container, examine the interior surfaces to ensure that there is no pooled water and dry any water that may have collected.


Insulation. Insulating the walls of your container can reduce the temperature of the walls dropping to dew point, and therefore eliminating condensation from occurring.


Check out our Guide How To Insulate A Shipping Container 

Installing a Vapor Barrier


A vapor barrier can help reduce excess moisture condensation on the container walls. A vapor barrier is any material used for damp proofing. Commonly a plastic sheet, that prevents diffusion of moisture through the walls, doors or ceiling.

 

Dehumidifiers and air-con units. If you are intending on storing items that are sensitive to the effects of moisture, you may need to consider using more direct solution to cooling and removing humid air. Air conditioners and / or dehumidifier units are effective at maintaining stable, dry conditions for storage containers in problem climates or seasons of the year.

 

For a less costly and lower maintenance method of managing humidity inside the container, you could employ desiccants inside. Desiccants are “hygroscopic substances” which absorb atmospheric moisture.

 

Think of those “Do Not eat” silica gel packets that are usually found inside bottles of food supplements or product packaging. Desiccants are available in a number of forms – most commonly contained in strips hung on the walls or suspended from the ceiling or bags on the floor of the container. The desiccant bags should be replaced every 10 to 12 weeks – depending on the time of year and your local weather conditions.

 

2) Ventilate to allow warm humid air to escape


Ventilation. Consider your environment. If your container will be stored in a climate where there is a significant day/night temperature fluctuation, you may need to employ greater measures to mitigate “container rain”.


Containers are often renovated and fitted with vents to allow air circulation and avoid the build-up of heated air inside the container. This simple step can go a long way to eliminating the effects of condensation.

 

3) Store dry goods to avoid condensation.


Make sure you only store 100% dry goods in the storage box. Be aware that some materials, such as fresh wood, can have an intrinsically high moisture content. This means that moisture from the items themselves can release moisture into the air and can cause humidity levels to rise inside the container.
Avoid placing moisture sensitive objects (like furniture or cardboard boxes) directly in contact with the walls where water droplets are most likely to condense and collect. Be aware that some items (ex. electronics or dried food stuffs or cardboard boxes of paper documents which are susceptible to mold) may be at risk of the effects of moisture build up and plan accordingly.

 


So you bought your own shipping container and are using it for storage. One of your first questions now that you are the proud owner of a Conex container is “What do I need to do to take care of and maintain my shipping container?”

 

The good news is that by their very design, shipping containers are constructed out of heavy gauge steel and built to be durable for many years, with minimal maintenance.

How long do shipping containers last?


You can expect to get a minimum of 15-20 years of use from your shipping container. When a Conex container is retired from international cargo containers for sale service they are resold as wind and water tight units into the storage market or to be repurposed for other uses.

 

With some basic preventative maintenance and planning, your sea container can easily serve you with a further fifteen or more years of use.

 

Annual inspection of your storage container


Mark your calendar to make an annual inspection of your storage container. Check for any indications of structural rust, especially in the frame parts of the box where water may have collected for any period of time. Inspect the rubber door seals to check for deterioration. Old seals eventually become brittle and won’t maintain a water tight seal. As with anything – if you address any problems early on and perform a minimum level of maintenance – you can save time and money on repairs later. Your local climate will be a factor in what kind of maintenance that you have to perform and the rate at which your container will deteriorate. Anyone who has owned a car in a wet, temperate climate will know that the moisture, snow, and freezing temperatures cause a more rapid deterioration of metal compared to a warm, dry environment (like Arizona for instance).

 

Preventative Maintenance is key 


To help maximize the lifetime of your cargo container storage, we will share a few tips to help maintain your container:

 

Protect against the effects of water and excess moisture


Container condensation or “container rain” is a pretty common thing to monitor during your periodic container inspections. While your sea container is designed to be water tight and prevent moisture from entering from the outside, there is moisture in the air and even contained within the items that you may be storing.

 

“Container rain” is the condensation of the moisture in the air that occurs inside the closed metal structures. An excessive accumulation of condensation can cause serious damage to some types of items (example electronics or paper documents) and can also accelerate the oxidation process (appearance of rust we will discuss later).

 

How does condensation occur inside shipping containers?


The metal walls of shipping containers tend to conduct heat very well. As the air temperature drops outside from day to night time, the steel surfaces of the container walls rapidly cool. Once cooled low enough, the metal surfaces will reach what we know as the ‘dew point’ – the temperature where airborne water vapor condenses back into a liquid again.


When warm, humid air comes into contact with the cool metal container walls, the moisture condenses from a vapor to its liquid state, causing water droplets to from on metal surfaces – most of the condensation collects on the ceiling. In regions of the country where there is a great difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the risk of container rain damaging your stored items is greater.

 

How can we deal with moisture condensation in shipping containers?


There are three main factors to consider to minimize the problem of moisture condensation in your storage container.

1) Reduce the amount of humidity in the conex container


Inspect the container ceilings and walls for visible moisture condensation. Prior to loading the container, examine the interior surfaces to ensure that there is no pooled water and dry any water that may have collected.


Insulation. Insulating the walls of your container can reduce the temperature of the walls dropping to dew point, and therefore eliminating condensation from occurring.


Check out our Guide How To Insulate A Shipping Container 

Installing a Vapor Barrier


A vapor barrier can help reduce excess moisture condensation on the container walls. A vapor barrier is any material used for damp proofing. Commonly a plastic sheet, that prevents diffusion of moisture through the walls, doors or ceiling.

 

Dehumidifiers and air-con units. If you are intending on storing items that are sensitive to the effects of moisture, you may need to consider using more direct solution to cooling and removing humid air. Air conditioners and / or dehumidifier units are effective at maintaining stable, dry conditions for storage containers in problem climates or seasons of the year.

 

For a less costly and lower maintenance method of managing humidity inside the container, you could employ desiccants inside. Desiccants are “hygroscopic substances” which absorb atmospheric moisture.

 

Think of those “Do Not eat” silica gel packets that are usually found inside bottles of food supplements or product packaging. Desiccants are available in a number of forms – most commonly contained in strips hung on the walls or suspended from the ceiling or bags on the floor of the container. The desiccant bags should be replaced every 10 to 12 weeks – depending on the time of year and your local weather conditions.

 

2) Ventilate to allow warm humid air to escape


Ventilation. Consider your environment. If your container will be stored in a climate where there is a significant day/night temperature fluctuation, you may need to employ greater measures to mitigate “container rain”.


Containers are often renovated and fitted with vents to allow air circulation and avoid the build-up of heated air inside the container. This simple step can go a long way to eliminating the effects of condensation.

 

3) Store dry goods to avoid condensation.


Make sure you only store 100% dry goods in the storage box. Be aware that some materials, such as fresh wood, can have an intrinsically high moisture content. This means that moisture from the items themselves can release moisture into the air and can cause humidity levels to rise inside the container.
Avoid placing moisture sensitive objects (like furniture or cardboard boxes) directly in contact with the walls where water droplets are most likely to condense and collect. Be aware that some items (ex. electronics or dried food stuffs or cardboard boxes of paper documents which are susceptible to mold) may be at risk of the effects of moisture build up and plan accordingly.

 

Rust: How to prevent & avoid shipping container rust


Even though Conex containers are designed to be watertight and be used in all weather conditions, they are ultimately made of steel and thus susceptible to the problem of rust.

 

The good news is that most shipping containers are manufactured out of corrosion resistant Cor-Ten steel and we can take measures to protect against the onset of rust and slow its corrosive effects. If you purchased an “as is” container, it is quite likely that a used shipping container has had a lot of exposure to salt water and salt air which all accelerate corrosion. A 1-trip or new container will not have that degree of corrosion.

 

What causes shipping containers to rust?


Rust occurs when iron reacts with oxygen in the air, or chloride in water. Marine grade steel has anti-corrosive properties, but because of the harsh, maritime environments that containers are exposed to, rust will eventually, occur.

When a shipping container is exposed to both oxygen and water – an oxidation chemical reaction occurs. The reaction between the steel, the water, and oxygen creates hydrated iron (III) oxide, which we can experience as rust. Shipping containers can also start to rust if their metal surface sustains any damage during transit. When the container is impacted during loading, the protective coating on the outside of the container may be damaged and bare metal exposed, which creates a foothold for the oxidation reaction to get started.

 


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