Did you know that 90% of everything that’s bought and sold in the US arrives on a ocean container-freight vessel ?

Mind-boggling as this may be, it’s only one of the many interesting ocean-freight shipping facts that exist. An ancient industry, ocean-freight allows global trade to exist as it does today. It is now a vast sector, projected to cross $7 billion by 2027.

However, it has only grown to this size and value recently. Not so long ago, container-freight shipping only existed on a much smaller scale.

Are you curious to know more about this fascinating industry that has mushroomed over time, connecting countries, supplying consumers with products, and rendering the world a giant marketplace? If yes, read on as we dive into seven fascinating facts about ocean shipping as we know it today.

1. Container Shipping Is Only 64 Years Old

If you are a millennial or even a baby-boomer, you probably can’t remember a world without shipping containers and their well-trodden ocean routes.

However, even though most of us have the feeling that container ships have been around forever, the container ship is actually only in its sixties.

The birth of the container ship happened in 1955 when trucking entrepreneur Malcolm P. McLean decided to transport trucks in containers. He then shelled out for an oil tanker and customized it for container transportation.

2. Ocean-freight Shipping Is Relatively Green

Although the ocean freight industry uses a few hundred million tons of fuel each year, it is still one of the greener options for transporting goods.

According to research, moving 150 tons worth of goods via an ocean-freight vessel has 44 times less global warming potential than if you were to transport the same shipment via air.

At the same time, the ocean freight shipping industry is also looking at alternative energy sources that will reduce emissions. Some alternative solutions include hydrogen-powered cells, as well as modern-day versions of ship sails that can reduce fuel demands by up to 20%.

Other advancements that researchers and shipbuilders are working on include robotic hull cleaners and air lubrication to reduce friction between ships’ hulls and the water, thereby increasing fuel efficiency.

Besides these new high-tech advancements, there is also currently a big drive for all freight ships to install air scrubbers to further reduce emissions and air pollution.

3. Piracy Is Rife

If you thought that piracy was something confined to the days of Blackbeard and Captain Hook, you’re very mistaken.

As long as there has been maritime trade, there has been piracy. However, rather than wielding cutlasses and daggers, today’s pirates rely on guns and technology to track and assail their targets.

Estimates state that piracy currently costs the industry roughly $50 billion annually in lost cargo and damages. Recently, pirates switched from focusing mainly on cargo theft and are now beginning to hold crew members ransom instead.

At the moment, some of the hotspots for freight ship piracy are the Malacca Straights, the Gulf of Aden, the South China Sea, Benin, Nigeria, Somalia, and the Gulf of Guinea.

4. Ocean Shipping Is Getting Slower

While piracy is rampant and many freight companies are forced to take less efficient routes, container ships are also slowing down.

Cruising slower than the Cutty Sark did 130 years ago, some container ships are inching along at less than half their previous speeds.

The reason ocean freight vessels are going at the pace of the old clipper ships lies in reduced fuel consumption.

After the 2009 recession, shipping companies had to cut costs. They did this by reducing speeds from the standard 25 knots to 20 knots. Fast forward to today, and emission regulations and cost savings have caused some companies to modify their freight ship engines to handle sustained slowed speeds of 12 knots.

5. Container Ships Clock Serious Miles

Although container ships might be traveling slower these days, this doesn’t mean they aren’t still putting down the miles. It is estimated that the average freight ship typically clocks just under 1.5 million miles in a year—the equivalent of traveling three-quarters of the way to the moon and back.

Considering that container ships can last up to 20 years and more, the average ship could complete up to 15 theoretical “moon journeys” in the miles it covers over its lifetime.

6. A Third of Ocean Freight Ships Have No Communication at Sea

One would think in this day and age that container ships would be able to have communication and network connections wherever they go. Unfortunately, this is not the case. A large portion of freight ships have no means of communication with the rest of the world during voyages.

Besides this staggering fact, only 10% of the seafarers on ships that are in communication with the world have access to the internet. Talk about unplugging!

7. Only a Small Percentage of Cargo Ever Gets Checked

When it comes time to fill out customs forms, you might get the feeling that your container or goods will be thoroughly inspected. While there is a chance that it will, not nearly as many containers are inspected as one would think.

Thanks to the sheer volume of freight, customs officials only check an average of 5% of containers that arrive in the US. This percentage varies by country. Some countries check up to 10% of containers, while others only check roughly 2%.

Are You Looking for a Cost-Effective and Convenient Ocean Freight Solution?

Operating mostly behind the scenes (if that is possible for such gargantuan vessels!), the ocean freight industry and its ships play a vital role in trade and the global availability of goods. As you can see, once you take a look under the hood, there are a lot of interesting facts that surround this large industry.

Are you looking to ship goods and products? If so, here’s another valuable fact to know: here at ExFreight, we offer some of the most cost-effective rates and reliable service in the industry.

If you are in need of a streamlined shipping solution, you have come to the right place. You can browse our shipping services to learn more, or sign up to get quotes.