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> I don't know that entire containers get lost with the same frequency as individual packages. There are some that fall overboard[1]. I'm sure it's not huge co

> I don't know that entire containers get lost with the same frequency as individual packages. There are some that fall overboard[1]. I'm sure it's not huge compared to the global volume shipped, but the risk is there. --- 1. https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/33002-shipping-containers-are-falling-overboard-at-a-rapid-rate https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/33002-shipping-con...

JohnBooty 4y ago
While it's certainly not a negligible problem if your container goes overboard, seems nearly negligible as a whole! The linked article seems to suggest that it's a few thousand containers per year out of 226 million. Pretty darn good. I would love to know more about the industry in general. When you ship a container, what kind of tracking information do you get? Etc. Theoretically it's relatively easy (not easy but... relatively easy) for shipping companies to provide that info (they know that container X is on ship Y and presumably know where ship Y is and when it's expected in port) but, I don't know how that industry works. I do know that there are a lot of sensors you can attach to individual packages that let you know if your packages have exceeded g-force, temperature, or orientation thresholds during shipping. They're not necessarily wireless or satellite enabled, but when the package arrives, they make it possible to verify that the package has remained within acceptable limits during transit. I imagine at least some of that tech is used in the container shipping industry as well. Maybe.
- nordsieck 4y ago
  > I would love to know more about the industry in general. When you ship a container, what kind of tracking information do you get? Etc. Theoretically it's relatively easy (not easy but... relatively easy) for shipping companies to provide that info (they know that container X is on ship Y and presumably know where ship Y is and when it's expected in port) but, I don't know how that industry works. I haven't worked in the industry, but I have worked for FedEx for a short time. I have to imagine there are at least some similarities. At FedEx, you're supposed to scan each package "received" at the warehouse. And then scan it again when it's loaded onto a truck. But when you have so many packages to deal with, sometimes boxes go onto the wrong truck. Sometimes boxes go onto the right truck, but they don't get scanned. Sometimes boxes are mislabeled. Or misrouted. Sometimes the recipient goes out of business. Or moves. Sometimes the label is unreadable. Sometimes there are multiple different addresses on the box. I'm sure all that stuff happens to containers as well. Especially when the largest ships are above 14000 TEU.

JohnBooty 4y ago

While it's certainly not a negligible problem if your container goes overboard, seems nearly negligible as a whole! The linked article seems to suggest that it's a few thousand containers per year out of 226 million. Pretty darn good. I would love to know more about the industry in general. When you ship a container, what kind of tracking information do you get? Etc. Theoretically it's relatively easy (not easy but... relatively easy) for shipping companies to provide that info (they know that container X is on ship Y and presumably know where ship Y is and when it's expected in port) but, I don't know how that industry works. I do know that there are a lot of sensors you can attach to individual packages that let you know if your packages have exceeded g-force, temperature, or orientation thresholds during shipping. They're not necessarily wireless or satellite enabled, but when the package arrives, they make it possible to verify that the package has remained within acceptable limits during transit. I imagine at least some of that tech is used in the container shipping industry as well. Maybe.

nordsieck 4y ago
> I would love to know more about the industry in general. When you ship a container, what kind of tracking information do you get? Etc. Theoretically it's relatively easy (not easy but... relatively easy) for shipping companies to provide that info (they know that container X is on ship Y and presumably know where ship Y is and when it's expected in port) but, I don't know how that industry works. I haven't worked in the industry, but I have worked for FedEx for a short time. I have to imagine there are at least some similarities. At FedEx, you're supposed to scan each package "received" at the warehouse. And then scan it again when it's loaded onto a truck. But when you have so many packages to deal with, sometimes boxes go onto the wrong truck. Sometimes boxes go onto the right truck, but they don't get scanned. Sometimes boxes are mislabeled. Or misrouted. Sometimes the recipient goes out of business. Or moves. Sometimes the label is unreadable. Sometimes there are multiple different addresses on the box. I'm sure all that stuff happens to containers as well. Especially when the largest ships are above 14000 TEU.