Use of Containers to Carry Bulk and Break Bulk Commodities and Their Impact on Gulf Region Ports and International Trade : Research Project Capsule

Research project capsule.PDFBooklet/Pamphlet13-7SSContainersContaining equipmentHydraulic structuresCanals and waterwaysCanalsLocks (Waterways)Lock chambersLock gatesLift gates (Locks)LouisianaLouisiana Transportation Research CenterLouisiana Transportation Research CenterNTL-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION-Marine Laws and RegulationsNTL-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION-Ships and VesselsUS Transportation CollectionSince their introduction in the 1950s, the use of containers now represents roughly 90% ofworld trade. Their acceptance as the common denominator in international shipping has hadprofound impacts throughout the shipping industry. More recently, two new impacts ofcontainers are being felt: (1) significantly larger vessels, called \ue2\u20ac\u153mega\ue2\u20ac? ships with capacity of12,500+TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) and a draft of 50 ft. are now deployed on main tradelanes; and (2) terminals are being redesigned and reequipped to serve these ships, requiringdeeper berths and larger cranes. The pending 2015 expansion of the Panama Canal will acceleratethese two trends. Their impact on the U.S. Gulf Coast ports is the main concern of this study