When transporting large scale commerial items across the sea, the easiest and most affordable way for companies is via a large freight ferry, which is able to hold thousands of sea contianers on a single crossing. Because of the size of the containers, the types of materials transported in this way tend to larger, such as vehicles, large construction pieces and often heavy bulk items, not necessarily large, but whereby the people selling them need the cheapest way possible.

There are many different types of sea containers:

• Dry Containers - 20’ and 40’ dry containers are manufactured from either aluminium or steel. They are suitable for most types of cargo. Aluminium containers have a slightly larger payload than steel, and steel containers have a slightly larger internal cube. Specific dimensions and capacity may vary depending on the container manufacturer, the age of the container as well as the container-owner.


• High Cube Dry Container - With high cube containers, you gain an extra foot in height compared with dry containers. The high cube containers are ideal for light, voluminous or bulky cargo. These extra volume containers come in 40’ and 45’ sizes in steel and aluminum.


• Reefer Containers - Refrigerated Containers (= Reefer Containers) are used for the carriage of the goods requiring controlled temperature in transit, such as fruit, vegetables and diary products and meat. It is fitted with a refrigeration unit which is connected to the carrying ship’s electrical power supply.


• Open Top Container - An open top container has an open top covered by a tarpaulin instead of a solid roof. This enables oversized (i.e. door opening) cargo such as timber and scrap metal to be loaded from the top. These containers normally have end doors to give flexibility to loading and discharging operations.


• Flatrack Containers - Flatracks are especially suited for heavy loads or cargo that needs loading from the top or sides, such as pipes and machinery. You will find collapsible and non-collapsible containers with or without walls. They are manufactured from steel and flatrack containers come in 20' and 40' sizes.


• Platform Containers - Platform containers are without sides, ends or roof. They are used for awkwardly shaped cargoes which cannot fit on or in any other type of container.