Open top containers first appeared in Denmark. The earliest ones were built from the extra tankers that were left over after WWII.
These days you can find a variety of shipping containers in many different shapes and sizes.
The size you use should be based on the size and weight of the items your are transporting. Picking the right size container is very important as it ensures your goods will be delivered safe.
Sizes Specific to Cargo
Each container is designed to carry a specific type of cargo. For heavy machinery you would use the flat rack or platform containers because they are open on all sides.
Open top containers are for transporting heavy, oversized cargo such as coal or sand. There are also containers that are closed off and waterproof, dry van containers and containers that have a side door.
Transporting Open Top Containers
Transporting these containers can be very risky. It can affect no only the cargo but the ship as well. Organizing the containers is very important as they contain most of the total weight of the ship.
Too much weight on one side can cause some serious damage. How you load and unload the containers is serious business.
Each container is tested and certain specifications are issues with roof bows. If just one roof bow is missing it can change everything.
Loading and Unloading
Open top containers make loading and unloading cargo very easy. And while they are pretty much the same as other containers, the one big difference is that the roof is PVC tarpaulin which allows you to load and unload from the top.
The tarpaulin is also very strong and will protect your cargo from outside weather. They are perfect for items that are shaped weird and unable to fit in a regular container.
Open Top Container Sizes
You can get open top containers in 20 feet, 40 feet and 45 feet. To eliminate odor build up in an open top container the walls are made of corrugated steel and the floors are made of wood. The container doors can also be removed which makes much easier to get cargo in the container.
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