A common joke about the interstate highway system is why there are such highways in Hawaii, where there are three. But one need only remember the primary purpose of this system is movement of military equipment to resolve the mystery. A secondary benefit of these roadways is the incredible volume of nitrogen purged shipping containers that can be moved almost continuously.
The humble transport container gets very little press or respect, yet is a primary reason for transportation efficiency. Standardizing the size and shape of inter-model freight containers, was accomplished by commercial shipping experts and the US military in the 1950s. While it now seems obvious that a standardized package would be the smartest way to move things, it was a breakthrough achievement.
The idea was to make it just as simple to move cargo across the international distribution lanes as the interstate highway system. The process had to be convenient to use and flexible enough to work on trucks, railways and ocean going vessels. The resulting device is both simple and elegant, allowing for relatively easy handling and storage.
They were large, but manageable, and capable of handling automobiles as well as any other material the retail or industrial sectors might need. If larger items needed to be shipped, devices that were double or triple the length or height could do the trick. Another requirement is that the be capable of stable stacking up to seven high, to accommodate movement in large ocean going vessels.
Protection of the assets was a primary driver for the development of these transportation storage units. The time it takes to get from origin to the trans-load facility and then on to the destination is measured in weeks, sometimes months. For the duration, the cargo needed to have physical protection from the elements as well as from people and equipment.
There are often cases wherein dangerous liquids have to moved, for construction and other industrial purposes, requiring specialized care. The most common types of needs are the petroleum we use in the millions of gallons daily across the globe. Since the majority of it is produced far from where it is used, developing a safe means to get it from production facility to user was essential.
Volatile chemicals, like gasoline and acids, also need a controlled atmosphere for movement across nations or seas. With the sheer volume of fossil fuels used daily in every nook and cranny of every continent, such movement is frequent and risky. The introduction of inert gases can reduce the possibility of what could be violent explosions, and makes the system work smoothly.
With the considered use of nitrogen purged shipping containers, all manner of volatile and perishable material can be included in the global transportation system with ease. It allows for the movement of such material across nations and across the planet as quickly as any other type of cargo, Handed correctly, it can even be moved with other material and even people with little or no concern.
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