Empty container management crisis.

Managing the EMPTY containers reaches the crisis point.

Shipping companies want and must put empty containers outside terminal areas. Large areas of ports and terminals are used by temporarily deposited empty containers but also for long waiting periods for a buyer or lease taker. These containers occupy public spaces bringing to an over-stock container problem also known as overabundance of containers.

According to some estimates, up to 30% of commercial traffic is dedicated to moving empty containers. The transport of the empty container constitutes a cost for shippers and end-users and an ecological cost constituted from the overcrowding of container in public areas. Keep in mind that a shortage of empty containers in Asia has been reported to meet export needs. However, shipping companies have been unable to evacuate the amount of empty containers required to reduce congestion.

With empty import containers that cannot be removed, the effect of the flow on the supply chain becomes huge. This results in a massive increase in re-routing alerts for empty containers.

Problems can be sum up as follows:

• the high cost of sending them when they are empty
• the high cost of storage within public spaces
• the social costs involved in occupying public areas for long periods such as ports and distribution centres.

Shipping companies must urgently schedule large amounts of empty stacks in empty container parks to reduce congestion. One solution would be to organise dedicated vessels for evacuating empty containers. Importers should discuss with their shipping companies the costs of storing empty containers. Practically speaking, if you can’t pick up the container on time, these costs will be covered by the final cost of transportation.

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