Creative Uses for Offshore Shipping Containers

The international standardization of offshore shipping container construction has allowed for greater efficiency in the loading, transportation, and shipment of goods and equipment around the world. Offshore containers are used world-wide to hold and transport all kinds of materials safely and reliably. The sturdy construction, abundance, and longevity of these containers has led to a recent revolution in the repurposing and reuse of shipping vessels to meet a huge variety of needs. The possibilities for utilizing these durable vessels are almost unlimited; with their corrugated walls, dependable materials, and standardized size and shape, they have become a highly sought-after resource for constructing relatively inexpensive but solid and versatile structures.

How Shipping Containers Are Made

A variety of materials may be used in the construction of these structures, including aluminum, steel, polymer, or a combination of these. Container walls are typically made from corrugated steel that has been sandblasted and treated to remove contaminants and prevent rust. Roof panels, floor braces, and door and corner post assemblies are constructed separately and then welded together. Wooden frames may be constructed for the flooring of the containers. After priming and painting, the containers are fitted with rubber seals and inspected to ensure that they are water tight and free from defects.Click here to learn more about shipping containers and their purposes and construction.

A new twenty-foot shipping container can cost around $4000, but used ones can often be purchased for half that amount. Essentially, these vessels become building blocks for larger construction projects, saving time and money but providing an enduring infrastructure to fulfill a variety of practical and, in some cases, essential or life-saving purposes.

Shipping Containers as Pre-Fab Construction Units

Although not originally intended for this purpose, shipping containers have come into common use as building materials. With some relatively minor alteration and a bit of creativity, the possibilities are almost endless for converting these utilitarian devices into not only functional and inexpensive, but also charming, attractive, and in some cases, very sophisticated structures. Their standardized construction and sizing make them particularly useful in cases where equal units of space are needed, as in affordable student housing or even boutique hotels. Offshore containers have also been used to provide essential services both temporary and permanent, serving as health clinics and first aid units as well as temporary classrooms and mobile computer labs. They have been converted into restaurants, cafes, and art studios and galleries. Some enterprising designers have transformed these transport devices into large recreational facilities such as gymnasiums and shopping malls, while others have used them as swimming pools and saunas.

The Numerous Benefits of Shipping Container Structures

These utilitarian devices are not only well constructed, economical, and widely available as resources for building other structures; they also lend themselves perfectly to environmentally friendly construction and living practices. The addition of solar panels and other alternative sources of energy can allow for off-grid living without sacrificing all modern conveniences. Because they require less output of energy to create a final product than many more traditional building materials and practices, they create a reduced "carbon footprint" in both the construction process and in their ongoing use.

Offshore containers have become one of the ultimate expressions of the principle of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Their creative use has provided a huge variety of solutions to meet the diverse needs of people across the globe.