Shipping Containers Are Genius - Here's Why

The humble shipping container changed our society - it made International shipping cheaper, economies larger and the world much, much smaller. But what did the shipping container replace, how did it take over shipping and where has our dependance on these simple metal boxes led us?

I highly recommend Marc's book "The Box" to read more on the subject!

00:00 - Introduction
1:49 - What did Containers Replace?
4:03 - The Inefficent SS Warrior
8:01 - Malcom McLean: Container Pioneer
10:16 - The Revolutionary Ideal-X
13:45 - Rise & Ruin
15:26 - Standardisation
18:14 - The Container Trade Explodes
20:25 - Containers: A Victim of Their Own Success?
24:38 - The Cap San Diego
27:23 - Waffling on a Bit

[greedtheron]

Something else to consider that really helped the efficiency of containerization was the loss of shrinkage from the dock workers. I remember hearing that sometimes up for 40% of rum bottles were 'dropped and broken' by the longshoremen and never made it to their destination. That stopped when everything was put into nondescript boxes.

[pendantblade]

Jerry cans, floating buoys, battleships, flying homes, and now containers. This is why you're the best, Calum.

[LordFalconsword]

25 year LCB (licensed customs broker) here. Actually, there were specific requirements based on individual item description. That's why there was barrel, cask, butt, drum, etc. Each one described a different general shape and size. Yes, there was no hard and fast standard, however a drum was almost always 55 US gallons and metallic, while a cask was expected to be less than 20 gallons, and almost always wooden.

Just thought I'd give a little detail on wet carriage standards. But even bales were usually expected sizes. Crates could be anything, and thus almost always had dimensions attached, and actually still do. I did LTL cargo for several years for a consolidator, and it's a bloody nightmare.

Oh, and Longshoremen NEVER worked on a the boat, their job stopped at the rail. The crew took it from there. And lightermen usually handled from warehouse to dock, where longshoremen took over.

[joelaugustin]

It's really nice that you've been able to consistently find experts on your last few subjects, great job Calum! 150k or bust!

[DIEGhostfish]

Interesting side tangent about the first and only attempt at a nuclear cargo ship failing partly out of "You can't dock here" but als because it was one of the last pre-cargo-container vessels.

[michaellandry]

As a business professor teaching supply chain management I have assigned Levinson's book The Box to my students -- it's an amazing account. As is this video -- the storytelling, production values, and compelling presentation are off the charts! Thanks, Calum.

[ceirwynsinclair]

I have a lot of respect for presenters who admit they aren't experts, and talk with experts to share their knowledge! I loved having the interview and the voice overs, it was smooth and very informative.

[TheFilmFatale]

So few YouTube creators can balance well-researched history with humorous behind-the-scenes narration or, better yet, integrate improved AV production quality while maintaining a light & playful tone. Cheers to you on another highly engaging and equally enjoyable episode!🍻

[a-fl-man]

the shipping container doesn't get enough praise. few things have completely revolutionized an industry the way they have. a marvelous idea and piece of engineering.

[SlackActionBumble]

At first I was like ah, Calum has read the box and he's going to be regurgitating it

Then he takes it one step further and actually brings the author on. Kudos.

[therealjammit]

The shipping container is what I think happened when the first caveman made the first wheel. Not only was it so obvious that "why didn't I think of that?" happened but it was so much better it was leaps and bounds ahead of anything else.

[dharma_dude]

Oh this is gonna be a treat! I helped my old boss convert a shipping container into a storage/workshop type thing, installing fans, lights, electricity and such. Great use for them.
Also love that tiny Maersk container, I want one!

[HATECELL]

My parents used to have a shipping container in their garden. It used to be an office/break room on large construction sites, so it already had a door and two windows, but my parents built an entire kitchen into it, including a big refrigerator, running water, and a table to sit if it rained. And there was still enough room to store our garden furniture, grill, and chairs over night

[CalumRaasay]

What do you think of my container workshop?
Also, I highly recommend his book "The Box" for more on the subject!

[JeffBilkins]

Shipping containers are great for shipping and storage but not so good as a base for a house. A metal box is like reverse-isolated: in warm weather they transfer heat inside, in winter they leak heat outside and create condensation inside.

You can spend money to try and fix it and fight the mould but at some point there are better options for cheap builds. It will be interesting to see how your workshop holds up when you have ambient temperature and ventilation with the door open.

[Apodeipnon]

Just an honest to God box enthusiast. Tremendous respect.

[douglasboyle]

I've always had a fascination with containers and containerization, I read Marc's book when it came out SEVENTEEN years ago and I love the fact that you and many other people still reach out to him to help tell the tale of Containers, they really are an unsung hero of our global economy. And now I have to read this new book of his!

One of the most important things that the container brought to global trade wasn't just cheap transits of cargo, but guaranteed timely transist of cargo. So much so that shipping timetables were so well known from port to port anyone in any business could know when a container would be going from point A and arriving at point B that "just in time" manufacturing was available for everyone - so much so that when you start to get hiccups like COVID or the Evergiven it really ripples far and wide.

[khj]

It warms my heart to hear the stakeholders got together to spend 10 years devising a standardized container. They didn't rush it, but made sure to get it right for all future generations.

[musewolfman]

That opening bit was fantastic! The composition of the shot, the cutaway of the container, the small cuts for you to move... excellent work.

[toLothair]

I would like to hear what happened to the longshoremen that were replaced by the containers. I can remember my grandfather coming home from work as a longshoreman and almost always having something in his pocket from broken cartons or sacks. He always had pepper corns, coffee beans, bananas, and sometimes a toy for us. I also remember the Guarantee that the current workers, at that time, got to allow their jobs to disappear. This was that they were Guaranteed their wages and benefits as long as they came in to work, signed in and if no work they can go home. My uncle did this in the early 1970's.
I will always remember the big metal hook on the floor of my grandfathers car.
Always a great video, thx.