Shipping containers

[Mallaig]

Can anyone explain the ownership and collection of payment involved with shipping containers. How do the owners keep track of them? How is a rental fee attributed to their use. My place of employment has several that are used for storage and have been in the same location for excess of 10 years, all have shipping company names on them, is a rental being paid on them? Once a container sets off on its first journey it is unlikely that the owner will see that particular container again as once emptied it will be used and sent off to another location. What is the income and life span of a container?

[Dingoeater]

The life of a container is long and varied and usually ends in somebody's yard as a storage device. Most shipping is done using an established shipping line and generally the containers are owned by the shipping companies. A container's journey usually begins when it's filled with food/electrical equipment/refugees (delete as applicable). The container has a unique ID number that allows the shipping company to track it. That container is cleared through customs on despatch and on arrival at its destination. Once customs duties, transport, demurrage etc. etc. have been paid, the container then proceeds to a warehouse and is unpacked. The container then is returned to the shipping line for re-use. For people like me the rental fee is part of the shipping costs, I don't know anyone who owns their own.

So, if America imports four times as much as it exports why isn't the US made entirely of containers? Because the shipping lines think ahead. They load empty cases on part full ships (usually those carrying heavy containers) in anticipation of the loads to be collected at other ports, often thinking up to two years in advance for big contracts. If you look at a container ship, the empty ones will be at the top so they don't affect stability.

The ones in your yard will have exceeded their natural lifespan, usually they are damaged slightly and cannot be guaranteed to be watertight (briny sofa anyone?) and they're sold off, usually at scrap value, making it a cheap storage option.