International shipments of goods, especially in the maritime sector, are mainly based on container transport. These containers are made in standard sizes and can be transported efficiently over long distances and transferred from one means of transport without being opened.

Standardised containers allowing the transport of goods by rail, road and ship easily, as the containers can fit onto different forms of transport with ease.

This mode of transport developed brings enormous benefits to international trade in terms of reducing transport costs, damage to goods and theft.