 Define shipping containers.

Shipping containers are standardized boxes used for storage and transportation of cargo from
one place to another. They are used for both domestic as well as international purposes (but
mostly international). They are reusable and handling of such containers requires
standardized handling equipments.

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 What are the different types of containers?

On the basis of dimensions: There are 7 types of containers which are as follows:

Container length 8 feet 10 feet 20 feet 22 feet 30 feet 40 feet 45 feet

Container width 7 feet 1 8 feet 8 feet 8 feet 8 feet 8 feet 8 feet
inch
Container height 7 feet 5 8 feet 6 8 feet 6 8 feet 6 8 feet 6 8 feet 6 8 feet 6
(Standard) inches inches inches inches inches inches inches
Container height 9 feet 6 9 feet 6 9 feet 6 9 feet 6 9 feet 6 9 feet 6
-
(High cube) inches inches inches inches inches inches

Out of the above mentioned containers, the mostly used containers are 20 feet and 40 feet
containers. These containers are called standard or general purpose containers.

Less common lengths include 24, 28, 44, 46, 48, 53 and 56 feet.

On the basis of usage: There are 10 types of containers:

1. Side Access containers: These are the containers that are having the doors on the sides.
These containers are also available with doors on the ends. They are used for general
purpose transportation.
2. Open end containers: The doors are at the end of the containers. They are used for
general purpose transportation. The cargo is loaded from the end of the containers.

3. Open top containers: Open top containers are used for all types of general cargo (dry
cargo). They are normally used for tall cargoes. The loading and unloading of cargo is
done from above and through doors using cranes.
4. Hard top containers: Hard top containers are used for all type of general cargo (dry
cargo). They are normally used for heavy and tall cargoes. The loading and unloading is
done from above and through doors using cranes.

5. Flat rack containers: Flat rack containers are used to transport heavy machinery. They
have no side walls, but may have end bulkheads. There are also collapsible flat rack
containers which are open sided with end bulkheads that can be folded down when the
rack is empty.

6. Bulk containers: Bulk containers are used to transport bulk cargo such as grains,
feedstuff, spices etc. However, they may also be used for transporting general cargo.
7. Tank containers: Tank containers are used for the liquid cargoes such as foodstuffs.
Fruit juices, spirits, chemicals, hazardous materials, toxic substances, corrosion
protection agents etc.

8. Ventilated containers: These containers are used especially for cargoes which have to
be ventilated in transit. One such commodity is green coffee beans; hence it is also
termed as coffee containers.
 9. Insulated and refrigerated containers: These containers are used for goods which need
to be transported at a constant temperature above or below freezing point. They
principally include fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products, such as butter and cheese.

10. Platform containers: These containers are used principally for oversized and very heavy
cargoes.

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 Design of Containers.
1. Side Access or open end containers: These are totally enclosed, box type containers.
These containers are also called cube containers. The container walls are generally made
up of corrugated steel and the floor is generally made up of wood.

2. Open top containers: The walls of these containers are generally made of corrugated
steel. The floor is made of wood. The roof consists of removable tarpaulin (a large sheet
of strong, flexible and water proof material).
3. Hard top containers: The walls of hard top containers are generally made of corrugated
steel. The floor is made of wood. It is equipped with a removable steel roof. The roof
weight approximately 450 kgs.

4. Flat rack containers: Flat rack containers consist of a floor structure with a high loading
capacity composed of a steel frame and the floor and the walls are made up of softwood.
The walls may either be flexible or collapsible.

5. Bulk containers: Bulk containers have three loading hatches (hatches provide access to
the roof or the deck) in the roof. The distance between the hatches (center to center) is 6
feet. On the door side, there are two hatches for loading and unloading the cargo.

6. Tank containers: Tank containers are manufactured with a cylindrical tank mounted
within a rectangular steel framework. Tank containers must be at least 80 percent full and
should not be over 95 percent full, or there will not be sufficient space for thermal
expansion. If the cargo requires temperature controlled transport, tank containers can be
equipped with insulation or heating.

7. Ventilated containers: In these containers, ventilation is provided by ventilation

openings in the top and bottom side rails. The openings do not let in spray, to prevent
depreciation of the cargo by rain or spray.

8. Refrigerated containers: A reefer will have an integral refrigeration unit. They also rely
on external power from electrical power points at a land based site or a container ship.
While being transported over the roads on a trailer they can be powered from diesel
powered generators which are attached to the containers.

Some reefers are equipped with a water cooling system, which can be used if the reefer is
stored below deck on a vessel without adequate ventilation to remove the heat generated.
But now-a-days, modern vessels are relying more on the ventilation to remove heat from
cargo holds, rather than the water cooling systems.
 9. Platform containers: These containers consist solely of a floor structure with
extremely high loading capacity. They have no side or end walls. This high loading
capacity makes it possible to concentrate heavy weights on small areas. A platform
consists of a steel frame and a wooden floor structure.

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 List of companies in India involved in the business of

containerization.
 Innovative B2B Logistics Solutions Limited (Inlogistics): It is the first private
container train operators to start operations. The company has established a strategic
alliance with CWC particularly in the area of operating container trains.
 Boxtrans Logistics India Services private limited: It is a subsidiary of J.M. Baxi &
Company and United Liner Agencies of India Private limited.
 Gateway District parks Limited: GDL is a leading provider of port related logistics
support services and is promoted by the Windmill group, the Thakral group,
Parameswara Holdings ltd. Based in Singapore and Mr. Prem Kishan Gupta and Prism
International Pvt. Ltd. Based in India.
 Arshiya International
 Adani Logistics
 APL Logistics
 Anil Ambani promoted Reliance Infrastructure Engineering
 Pipavav Rail Corporation
 Hind terminals

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 Comparison between CONCOR (Indian Company) and other

Private players (MNCs)
Since the Indian Railways allowed the entry of private players in the business of
containerization, the near monopoly of CONCOR has ended. The private players are not only
reducing the business share of CONCOR but also winning business away from the road
transporters.

Certain facts and figures related to CONCOR and other private players as per the report
published in the year 2008-09 are as follows:

 Logistics analysts predicted that by the end of the financial year 2008-09, CONCOR’s near
monopoly of 95 percent would get reduced to 75 percent given capacity additions by the
private operators.
 They also predicted that by the end of 2008-09, the number of private container trains is
expected to nearly triple to 120. CONCOR, during the same period, will increase the number
of trains by just 13 percent, from 148 to 168.
 During the same period, the private operators are also expected to invest about Rs. 1200
crores in capacity expansion will CONCOR is expected to invest about Rs. 600 crores.

Company At present (2008 beginning) By April 2009

Inlogistics solutions 10 23
Boxtrans logistics 12 24
Gateway District parks 7 20
Arshiya Internationals 0 10

The private firms compete with CONCOR mostly for cargo meant for exports or imports, and
with the roadways for domestic cargo movement.

The private operators are increasing market share by adopting the following strategy – They are
setting up ICDs close to industrial and export hubs like Gurgaon, Ludhiana, Faridabad, Mumbai
and West Bengal and building warehousing facilities in major locations like Ghaziabad, Chennai
and Navi Mumbai.

The private operators are also providing door to door services by tying up with the road
transporters, a service which is provided by CONCOR in a very limited way.
To ensure better services to customers, private operators are also tying up for warehousing.
Boxtrans Logistics, a subsidiary of J.M. Baxi and Company and United Liner Agency of India,
has tied up with CWC. It is also planning to set up a logistics park in Sonepat in Haryana.

Inlogistics limited, which carries steel, building materials, food grains, and automobile parts will
be setting up ICDs in the Northern, Central and Eastern regions of India. Inlogistics provide a
very efficient service to their customers. For example, in Rajasthan, they pick up marble right
from the production units using their own trailers up to the rail terminal and get it transported to
their final destination. All these services are provided at an attractive package. Such door to door
services are not provided by CONCOR.

Experts say that the added advantage that private operators have over CONCOR is their
ability to take decisions quickly and providing customized solutions according to the needs and
preferences of the customers.

But since the private operators are having very limited infrastructure as compared to CONCOR,
so it will still take a long time for them to give neck to neck competition to CONCOR.

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