Transporting a full container seems cost-efficient, while moving and storing an empty one certainly is not. However, Rene Giesbers from Rotterdam probably has a solution to this.

The Cargoshell is a collapsible container made of fibre reinforced plastics; it weighs 25% less than a steel container and can be folded into a quarter of its size in 30 seconds. This has advantages not only for transport by sea but also for land transport in trucks; the company claims that if all steel containers are replaced by Cargoshells, a 75% saving on transport kilometres will be achieved, and consequently on CO2 emissions and costs.

The company also claims that, by affixing float-bags, a Cargoshell that is washed overboard continues to float and can therefore by traced quickly thanks to a built-in GPS system. The material has more benefits that just its weight: it is corrosion-resistant, it does not need a coat of paint, it is well insulated and it may reduce the need for climate-controlled containers. Additionally, Cargoshells have sliding doors rather than fixed doors, which means they can be stacked closer to each other.

A certified Cargoshell is currently being developed. A certified Cargoshell is currently being developed; but, with a potential price tag three times that of a traditional container, we may be some way from universal acceptance.

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