A shipping container is a canister with strength suitable to compact shipment, storage, and handling. Containers used for Shipping vary from steel boxes that are reusable for inter-modal shipments to the universal corrugated boxes. In connection to international shipping trade, a container is intended to be relocated from one vogue of transport to another without unloading and reloading.
In international shipping trade, “container” or “shipping container” is equivalent with “inter modal freight container”. There are standard and special sizes of containers consisting of dry freight. Since 2012 most of the container’s standard length are 20 foot and 40 foot.
Different Types of Containers

1. Inter modal Freight Containers: Freight containers are a sustainable transport and storage unit for movement of products and raw materials between locations or countries. The invention of containers has been a boon for the globalization of commerce, decreasing the cost of transporting goods and for long distances too. There are nearly 17 million inter-modal containers in the world, the long distance freight in international trade is carried in shipping containers; but many containers are also been abandoned as the cost of resending them to port of origin is high. Specially designed shipping containers are: High Cube Container (an extra 1ft from the normal height), pallet wide, open tops, side loaders, double door or tunnel-trainers, and temperature controlled containers. Transtainer, is a container used to port fuel and oil. Hybrid bulk fuel tank is for the construction, mining, logging and farms. These tanks are used for transporting and storing of bulk and dangerous liquids, via surface and sea.
2. Corrugated box: Made of corrugated fibre board, they are mainly used as shipping containers and are lightweight, can be recycled and strong to ship various products
3. Wooden Boxes: Commonly used to ship heavy and dense products. Government or Military shipments are shipped in this.
4. Crate: A large container made of wood to transport large, heavy or gawky items. It is a self-supporting structure, with or without sheathing.
5. Intermediate bulk shipping container: An intermediate bulk container (IBC, IBC Tote, IBC Tank) can be multi-used for the regular transportation, storage, taking care of bulk fluids and materials
   

Materials commonly used to manufacture IBCs are: Plastic (High-Density Polyethylene)

Composite: Steel & Plastic
Carbon Steel
Stainless Steel (304 & 316/316L SS grades)

Flexible intermediate bulk container is a foldable (collapsible) space- saving big/ bulk bag that is standardized container in large measurements to store and transport granular products. Material used is woven synthetic.

1. Bulk box: Also known as a bulk bin or tote box which is of a pallet size used in storing and shipping of bulk quantities.
2. Drums: They are cylindrical in shape, used for liquids and granular materials. It’s made out of steel, plastic or fibre.
3. Insulated: It is a part of cold chain system, where temperature sensitive products are used. The shipping containers are insulated, helps in retain the freshness and efficacy of the product, for e.g.: foods, chemicals and medicines.
4. Pail: They too can be used as shipping containers.
5. Unit load device (ULD): A container for loading cargoes into a wide- body and special narrow- bodied aircrafts. As a substantial volume of cargo can be charted at a single go, it aides in saving a lot of time and effort of the ground crews thus lessening flight delays. Every ULD has individual list of packing, manifest or tracking identification to help control and track the contents.
6. Specialized: Custom made containers are used to ship items like scientific instruments, weapons and aviation components. In order to protect contents and simplify handling these containers are custom- made cushioning, blocking and bracing, lift rings carrying handles, locks etc are similar, by which they can be reusable. For Transit and Flight cases it is mostly custom designed; mainly used for the transportation of fragile equipment. They are usually light in construction, but have fortified edges and corners. Road cases are basically for movement of musical instruments and theatre props.

Re-use
As they are plenty available ad cheap these intermodal shipping containers are used or alternated as house, retail and office spaces; as in restaurants, hostels, even as temporary intensive- care units in hospitals during the latest Coronavirus pandemic ( 2019- 2020).

But these containers has its own minus points too while recycling them. Many of them use harmful chemicals, toxic insecticides, lead based paints when in use, which may not be ecologically friendly when reused. Film and television industry also use these containers to build makeshift sets.

Logistics was often connected only with its two functions of transport and warehousing. Logistics is the process of strategically managing the movement and storage of materials, parts and finished inventory from suppliers and on to customers. Thus logistics is not just another name for transport, in fact, it is estimated that transport presents approximately 40% of all logistics costs. Transport is a part of integrated logistics management and is of greater importance as such. It is not only limited to the flow of goods across space and is not only a connective function in the fields of delivery of raw materials for manufacturing needs and for distributing final products. It comes under the adding of value, which is included in strategic management and decisions through transport logistics. A well-developed transport system ensures better efficiency, a reduction of operating costs, and higher service quality of logistics systems. Therefore, the transport function has undergone structural changes, which are reflected in the development of transport logistics.

Transport itself is regarded as one of the major components of distribution and logistics. Taking into account all of the major components of a logistics system, such as warehousing, inventory, packaging, and information flows in addition to transport, planning them in a systematic way, and at the same time respecting constraints of appropriate costs and service levels, is the core task of modern logistics. Many people have been using the term “transport logistics” but they do not define it or identify its activities. The definitions of transport logistics are not always accurate, but there is one useful idea where it defines transport logistics as the “relationship between transport and integrated approaches to logistics and supply chain management”. In other words, the main focus is on the movement of goods in a supply chain, which is more than mere transport of goods, since it covers full business and operational frames within which the movement or movement of the cargo is planned, managed and ultimately carried out. Transport logistics can also be considered as a broader term than transport alone, but a sub-activity of logistics and supply chain management.

Warehousing in India is a lucrative and desirable asset class of late for sure. The government’s granting industry status to Infrastructure and logistics has opened newer avenues as far as the availability of funds for growth in this sunrise sector is considered. Introduction of GST has galvanized the sector towards an enhanced throughput and industry-wide consolidation. Towards a new regime in Delhi, people have given their verdict and have chosen Narendra Modi yet again to lead the country through to 2024. It’s a reflection on Modi’s performance in the last five years as much as it is an indication of people’s aspiration in the years lying ahead. Their reposed faith in giving a decisive mandate augurs well for a stable government and for sound commerce and economics therein. In the recently concluded budget, the government is committed to investing INR 100 Lakh Crore in infrastructure over the next 5 years. This was much needed and it puts the focus on where the crux lies. The government has proposed to build 125000 km of roads for which investment to the tune of INR 80,250 crores has been allocated.

The Indian warehousing sector is poised for a transformation towards superior Grade A warehousing. Despite the recognition of logistics being a critical driver of economic development, logistics cost in India at 13-14% of GDP, is very high compared to that of USA (9-10%), Europe (10%), and Japan (11%). An efficient warehouse leads to a reduction of 15-20% of the cost in the entire logistics operations.

The Indian warehouse leasing market grew by more than 45% in 2018 and the demand for warehouse leasing in India is likely to touch almost 60 million sq. ft. with e-commerce being one of the key drivers. At least 22 million sq. ft. of this supply is estimated to be in the grade A warehousing category. The warehouse leasing crossed 25 million sq. ft. mark in 2018, which was more than 45% year-on-year growth. E-commerce in the overall warehousing leasing has increased from 10% in 2017 to 23% in 2018. At the same time, India aims to bring down its Logistics Performance Index. The changing consumer behaviour, the onslaught of technical evolution and the continued demand for superior Grade A warehousing space, all of them will together give a fillip to the warehousing in India and the logistics sector. The transformation of Grade B & Grade C warehouses into superior Grade A warehousing facilities is visible now. New technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Blockchain Technology, Internet of Things etc. are being used by the logistics sector to streamline processes and ensure a smoother interface. The increasing demand is being managed with an agile supply all because the system has been in place to allow efficiency and speed.

The heart of India’s logistics transport system lies in its widespread and robust road network, occupying a notable share of 60% in the entire logistics transport system in contrast to the global average of 30- 40%, as mentioned in the latest report published by JLL Industrial Services Research. The report featured the growth of the warehousing sector concerning the surge in domestic and foreign investors. It stated that the warehousing sector has witnessed around 8 mn sq. of absorption in 2019 alone. The research paper primarily stressed on the importance of road transport for connectivity of production houses to consumer and warehouse and how to optimize the use of roads by improving hinterland infrastructure and storage space. The Central Government is planning on devising a comprehensive plan to invest in major infrastructures ports, airports and rail among others with an estimated investment outlay of about INR 100 lakh by the next five years. The report also talked about the need to achieve cost efficiencies via specialization and consolidation of storage and modes of transport. This would pertain to logistics facilities, private freight terminals, dry ports (ICDs/CFS), waterways terminals and specialized storage spaces like cold storage etc. The report also foresees rail linked logistics facilities for multi-modal connectivity to be the major focus for future logistics sector development.

The head – industrial services, JLL India stressed on India’s booming growth in the domain of logistics and warehousing over the past decade and how it did not come as a surprise, owing to the many projects and steps that were taken towards it. India’s road, rail, port, airport and inland waterway added a new dimension in the growth story comprehensively for the Government-sponsored Bhartmala, Sagarmala, Jal Marg Vikas Project, Railway station re-development etc. creating a huge platform for future expansion of logistics infrastructure. According to the much-awaited National Logistics Policy, it was said that through the National Logistics Policy, the Central Government is focusing on the development of a fully integrated logistics network with modern technology and automation. It was also announced how JLL Industrial Services is launching Port, Airport and Global Infrastructure (PAGI) Practice in keeping with the recent developments in this sector. This, he believes, will aim at multi-dimensional service opportunity for global and domestic clients alike. There was also a stress on the need for prioritizing security and transparency in the sector. It underlines the obstacles that lie on the path of creating efficient last-mile connectivity and making land available to develop financially sustainable logistics infrastructure, capacity building for human resource, and investment-friendly policy framework for attracting private capital for the sector. The need for faster commercial regulations was also highlighted, along with the pressing need to achieve cost and time-efficiency and minimization of in-transit losses.

Global trade enabler DP World has taken a step towards the digital transformation of the logistics sector with the launch of Log-X, a national technology accelerator platform for logistics. Log-X aims to catalyze the start-up community to build smart trade solutions using digital technology to revolutionize the logistics sector. The accelerator programme will be run in cities like Mumbai, NCR and Bangalore, in partnership with Invest India, Kerala Start-Up Mission to bring out innovation and adopt technology in the Indian logistics sector. The programme will focus on digital technologies like Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, simulators and Internet of Things (IoT). It will seek to identify logistics-focused technology start-ups through the Startup India portal and will look to bring on board up to 10 selected start-ups for conducting pilots. The programme will extend industry credibility to the selected start-ups, offer an opportunity to do a Proof of Concept (POC), give them access to DP World’s network of customers, partners, mentors and investors, and offer the potential to raise strategic capital. The finalist start-ups will be mentored by the DP World leadership team and external mentors.  Infrastructure building is the key to actually building logistics efficiency and to bring the cost of logistics down in India. The 13-14 percent [cost of logistics] that exists in most publications and journals as a percentage of GDP, has to come down to 8-9 percent which is what most developing economies have. This has two implications;

1. It makes Indian exports more competitive. For every 10 percent reduction on the cost of logistics, there is a 10 percent jump in exports. It’s a very strong correlation. The cost of logistics has a very important role to play in terms of achieving GDP growth, in ensuring the Indian economy is out there competing with all the other economies.
2. The shift to multi-modalism. Sixty-five percent of the freight in India is by trucking, while in most developed economies it is 25 percent. There has to be a shift from trucking to other modes of transport. We want to be the company that makes the choice available to Indian exporters-importers and people in the logistics business. These are the two big trends that I’d like to focus on.” Light Metric, founded in February 2015, helps enterprises with large fleet operations monitor driver behaviour to improve safety, efficiency and compliance. CredAble, founded in March 2017, operates in the finance space facilitating early payment solutions. Wobot Intelligence is an AI-first plug and plays SaaS that uses business’ underutilized video data from existing CCTVs using innovative action recognition/prediction and person re-identification architecture to help them manage their
   business more efficiently.

A shipping container is a canister with strength suitable to compact shipment, storage, and handling. Containers used for Shipping vary from steel boxes that are reusable for inter-modal shipments to the universal corrugated boxes. In connection to international shipping trade, a container is intended to be relocated from one vogue of transport to another without unloading and reloading.
In international shipping trade, “container” or “shipping container” is equivalent with “inter modal freight container”. There are standard and special sizes of containers consisting of dry freight. Since 2012 most of the container’s standard length are 20 foot and 40 foot.
Different Types of Containers

1. Inter modal Freight Containers: Freight containers are a sustainable transport and storage unit for movement of products and raw materials between locations or countries. The invention of containers has been a boon for the globalization of commerce, decreasing the cost of transporting goods and for long distances too. There are nearly 17 million inter-modal containers in the world, the long distance freight in international trade is carried in shipping containers; but many containers are also been abandoned as the cost of resending them to port of origin is high. Specially designed shipping containers are: High Cube Container (an extra 1ft from the normal height), pallet wide, open tops, side loaders, double door or tunnel-trainers, and temperature controlled containers. Transtainer, is a container used to port fuel and oil. Hybrid bulk fuel tank is for the construction, mining, logging and farms. These tanks are used for transporting and storing of bulk and dangerous liquids, via surface and sea.
2. Corrugated box: Made of corrugated fibre board, they are mainly used as shipping containers and are lightweight, can be recycled and strong to ship various products
3. Wooden Boxes: Commonly used to ship heavy and dense products. Government or Military shipments are shipped in this.
4. Crate: A large container made of wood to transport large, heavy or gawky items. It is a self-supporting structure, with or without sheathing.
5. Intermediate bulk shipping container: An intermediate bulk container (IBC, IBC Tote, IBC Tank) can be multi-used for the regular transportation, storage, taking care of bulk fluids and materials
   

Materials commonly used to manufacture IBCs are: Plastic (High-Density Polyethylene)

Composite: Steel & Plastic
Carbon Steel
Stainless Steel (304 & 316/316L SS grades)

Flexible intermediate bulk container is a foldable (collapsible) space- saving big/ bulk bag that is standardized container in large measurements to store and transport granular products. Material used is woven synthetic.

1. Bulk box: Also known as a bulk bin or tote box which is of a pallet size used in storing and shipping of bulk quantities.
2. Drums: They are cylindrical in shape, used for liquids and granular materials. It’s made out of steel, plastic or fibre.
3. Insulated: It is a part of cold chain system, where temperature sensitive products are used. The shipping containers are insulated, helps in retain the freshness and efficacy of the product, for e.g.: foods, chemicals and medicines.
4. Pail: They too can be used as shipping containers.
5. Unit load device (ULD): A container for loading cargoes into a wide- body and special narrow- bodied aircrafts. As a substantial volume of cargo can be charted at a single go, it aides in saving a lot of time and effort of the ground crews thus lessening flight delays. Every ULD has individual list of packing, manifest or tracking identification to help control and track the contents.
6. Specialized: Custom made containers are used to ship items like scientific instruments, weapons and aviation components. In order to protect contents and simplify handling these containers are custom- made cushioning, blocking and bracing, lift rings carrying handles, locks etc are similar, by which they can be reusable. For Transit and Flight cases it is mostly custom designed; mainly used for the transportation of fragile equipment. They are usually light in construction, but have fortified edges and corners. Road cases are basically for movement of musical instruments and theatre props.

Re-use
As they are plenty available ad cheap these intermodal shipping containers are used or alternated as house, retail and office spaces; as in restaurants, hostels, even as temporary intensive- care units in hospitals during the latest Coronavirus pandemic ( 2019- 2020).

But these containers has its own minus points too while recycling them. Many of them use harmful chemicals, toxic insecticides, lead based paints when in use, which may not be ecologically friendly when reused. Film and television industry also use these containers to build makeshift sets.

Logistics was often connected only with its two functions of transport and warehousing. Logistics is the process of strategically managing the movement and storage of materials, parts and finished inventory from suppliers and on to customers. Thus logistics is not just another name for transport, in fact, it is estimated that transport presents approximately 40% of all logistics costs. Transport is a part of integrated logistics management and is of greater importance as such. It is not only limited to the flow of goods across space and is not only a connective function in the fields of delivery of raw materials for manufacturing needs and for distributing final products. It comes under the adding of value, which is included in strategic management and decisions through transport logistics. A well-developed transport system ensures better efficiency, a reduction of operating costs, and higher service quality of logistics systems. Therefore, the transport function has undergone structural changes, which are reflected in the development of transport logistics.

Transport itself is regarded as one of the major components of distribution and logistics. Taking into account all of the major components of a logistics system, such as warehousing, inventory, packaging, and information flows in addition to transport, planning them in a systematic way, and at the same time respecting constraints of appropriate costs and service levels, is the core task of modern logistics. Many people have been using the term “transport logistics” but they do not define it or identify its activities. The definitions of transport logistics are not always accurate, but there is one useful idea where it defines transport logistics as the “relationship between transport and integrated approaches to logistics and supply chain management”. In other words, the main focus is on the movement of goods in a supply chain, which is more than mere transport of goods, since it covers full business and operational frames within which the movement or movement of the cargo is planned, managed and ultimately carried out. Transport logistics can also be considered as a broader term than transport alone, but a sub-activity of logistics and supply chain management.

Warehousing in India is a lucrative and desirable asset class of late for sure. The government’s granting industry status to Infrastructure and logistics has opened newer avenues as far as the availability of funds for growth in this sunrise sector is considered. Introduction of GST has galvanized the sector towards an enhanced throughput and industry-wide consolidation. Towards a new regime in Delhi, people have given their verdict and have chosen Narendra Modi yet again to lead the country through to 2024. It’s a reflection on Modi’s performance in the last five years as much as it is an indication of people’s aspiration in the years lying ahead. Their reposed faith in giving a decisive mandate augurs well for a stable government and for sound commerce and economics therein. In the recently concluded budget, the government is committed to investing INR 100 Lakh Crore in infrastructure over the next 5 years. This was much needed and it puts the focus on where the crux lies. The government has proposed to build 125000 km of roads for which investment to the tune of INR 80,250 crores has been allocated.

The Indian warehousing sector is poised for a transformation towards superior Grade A warehousing. Despite the recognition of logistics being a critical driver of economic development, logistics cost in India at 13-14% of GDP, is very high compared to that of USA (9-10%), Europe (10%), and Japan (11%). An efficient warehouse leads to a reduction of 15-20% of the cost in the entire logistics operations.

The Indian warehouse leasing market grew by more than 45% in 2018 and the demand for warehouse leasing in India is likely to touch almost 60 million sq. ft. with e-commerce being one of the key drivers. At least 22 million sq. ft. of this supply is estimated to be in the grade A warehousing category. The warehouse leasing crossed 25 million sq. ft. mark in 2018, which was more than 45% year-on-year growth. E-commerce in the overall warehousing leasing has increased from 10% in 2017 to 23% in 2018. At the same time, India aims to bring down its Logistics Performance Index. The changing consumer behaviour, the onslaught of technical evolution and the continued demand for superior Grade A warehousing space, all of them will together give a fillip to the warehousing in India and the logistics sector. The transformation of Grade B & Grade C warehouses into superior Grade A warehousing facilities is visible now. New technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Blockchain Technology, Internet of Things etc. are being used by the logistics sector to streamline processes and ensure a smoother interface. The increasing demand is being managed with an agile supply all because the system has been in place to allow efficiency and speed.

The heart of India’s logistics transport system lies in its widespread and robust road network, occupying a notable share of 60% in the entire logistics transport system in contrast to the global average of 30- 40%, as mentioned in the latest report published by JLL Industrial Services Research. The report featured the growth of the warehousing sector concerning the surge in domestic and foreign investors. It stated that the warehousing sector has witnessed around 8 mn sq. of absorption in 2019 alone. The research paper primarily stressed on the importance of road transport for connectivity of production houses to consumer and warehouse and how to optimize the use of roads by improving hinterland infrastructure and storage space. The Central Government is planning on devising a comprehensive plan to invest in major infrastructures ports, airports and rail among others with an estimated investment outlay of about INR 100 lakh by the next five years. The report also talked about the need to achieve cost efficiencies via specialization and consolidation of storage and modes of transport. This would pertain to logistics facilities, private freight terminals, dry ports (ICDs/CFS), waterways terminals and specialized storage spaces like cold storage etc. The report also foresees rail linked logistics facilities for multi-modal connectivity to be the major focus for future logistics sector development.

The head – industrial services, JLL India stressed on India’s booming growth in the domain of logistics and warehousing over the past decade and how it did not come as a surprise, owing to the many projects and steps that were taken towards it. India’s road, rail, port, airport and inland waterway added a new dimension in the growth story comprehensively for the Government-sponsored Bhartmala, Sagarmala, Jal Marg Vikas Project, Railway station re-development etc. creating a huge platform for future expansion of logistics infrastructure. According to the much-awaited National Logistics Policy, it was said that through the National Logistics Policy, the Central Government is focusing on the development of a fully integrated logistics network with modern technology and automation. It was also announced how JLL Industrial Services is launching Port, Airport and Global Infrastructure (PAGI) Practice in keeping with the recent developments in this sector. This, he believes, will aim at multi-dimensional service opportunity for global and domestic clients alike. There was also a stress on the need for prioritizing security and transparency in the sector. It underlines the obstacles that lie on the path of creating efficient last-mile connectivity and making land available to develop financially sustainable logistics infrastructure, capacity building for human resource, and investment-friendly policy framework for attracting private capital for the sector. The need for faster commercial regulations was also highlighted, along with the pressing need to achieve cost and time-efficiency and minimization of in-transit losses.

Global trade enabler DP World has taken a step towards the digital transformation of the logistics sector with the launch of Log-X, a national technology accelerator platform for logistics. Log-X aims to catalyze the start-up community to build smart trade solutions using digital technology to revolutionize the logistics sector. The accelerator programme will be run in cities like Mumbai, NCR and Bangalore, in partnership with Invest India, Kerala Start-Up Mission to bring out innovation and adopt technology in the Indian logistics sector. The programme will focus on digital technologies like Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, simulators and Internet of Things (IoT). It will seek to identify logistics-focused technology start-ups through the Startup India portal and will look to bring on board up to 10 selected start-ups for conducting pilots. The programme will extend industry credibility to the selected start-ups, offer an opportunity to do a Proof of Concept (POC), give them access to DP World’s network of customers, partners, mentors and investors, and offer the potential to raise strategic capital. The finalist start-ups will be mentored by the DP World leadership team and external mentors.  Infrastructure building is the key to actually building logistics efficiency and to bring the cost of logistics down in India. The 13-14 percent [cost of logistics] that exists in most publications and journals as a percentage of GDP, has to come down to 8-9 percent which is what most developing economies have. This has two implications;

1. It makes Indian exports more competitive. For every 10 percent reduction on the cost of logistics, there is a 10 percent jump in exports. It’s a very strong correlation. The cost of logistics has a very important role to play in terms of achieving GDP growth, in ensuring the Indian economy is out there competing with all the other economies.
2. The shift to multi-modalism. Sixty-five percent of the freight in India is by trucking, while in most developed economies it is 25 percent. There has to be a shift from trucking to other modes of transport. We want to be the company that makes the choice available to Indian exporters-importers and people in the logistics business. These are the two big trends that I’d like to focus on.” Light Metric, founded in February 2015, helps enterprises with large fleet operations monitor driver behaviour to improve safety, efficiency and compliance. CredAble, founded in March 2017, operates in the finance space facilitating early payment solutions. Wobot Intelligence is an AI-first plug and plays SaaS that uses business’ underutilized video data from existing CCTVs using innovative action recognition/prediction and person re-identification architecture to help them manage their
   business more efficiently.