Container Vessel

A Container Vessel is designed to carry uniform-sized ocean freight containers of 20ft (6m) or 40ft
(12m) length, 8ft width, and 8.5ft to 9.5ft height.

Distinguishing Features: Containers are loaded into tall slots that extend from three to six containers
below deck to three to six containers above deck. The containers are then connected at the corners
with locking devices.

Size or Length: Container ships vary dramatically in size and capacity. While most vessel specifications
are given in length and width, container vessel specifications are in “TEUs” (twenty-foot equivalent
units) (how many standard 20 foot containers the vessel can carry). Very small container vessels might
carry as few as 20 TEUs, but modern vessels typically carry 1,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units)
or more. Currently, the largest container vessel in the world is 1,060ft (323m) long, 138ft (42m) wide,
has a draught  of 47.5ft (14.5m) when fully laden and has a capacity of 8,063 TEUs.

Types of Cargo: Container vessels carry any cargo that can be stowed into any of the following
container types: general purpose, high cube, hardtop, open top, flat, platform, insulated, ventilated,
bulk, refrigerated (reefer) and tank-type containers. Cargo can include merchandise in cartons, bales,
drums, cars, furniture, electronics, food, livestock, chemicals and machinery. Oversize cargo such as
heavy machinery, trucks, earth moving equipment and pleasure boats can be placed in or on open-top,
open-side or flat rack containers or secured to the tops of several containers in a row.

How Cargo is Loaded: Individual containers are loaded by port-based cranes.