Container Depot Processes Explained | LOTUS Containers

 A shipping container depot acts as a satellite terminal of the port used for consolidation, maintenance, and storage of shipping containers. In general, they control a steady flow of freight boxes. Container depots are also used as a freight consolidation point. Apart from that, they can also patch, clean, and store freight boxes. Empty containers belonging to leasing firms or freight companies are kept here for re-use or re-positioning. It is an exchange platform for importers and exporters to sell or purchase cargo box assets.

Generally, a container depot only has a gate or entrance for entry and exit to ensure all the op-erations of depot-in and depot-out. It avoids overlapping of work in the container depot that helps to reduce the everyday minimal cost. But at the same time, it indirectly increases the workload at the entrance, especially during certain peak hours. The peak hour induces conges-tion at the entrance which is mostly created by the clusters of trucks and vehicles coming at the same time. It affects and reduce the productivity of container depot that may further lead to delay in delivery.

The location of the freight boxes depository is a significant aspect. The cargo box depositories situated near the terminals tend to reduce the number of movements. Such warehouses that are situated near ports are known as Inland Container Depots (ICDs). If it is located in a metro-politan area where there is a high density at terminals, freight box depository near ports can adapt best to cargo delivery facilities and can have an easing impact if they are part of the logistics chain.

International Container Depot

At LOTUS Containers, we have more than 300 partner depots around the globe for our multina-tional footprint. We have a range of freight box forms to satisfy your needs. We also have our own depository at the port of Hamburg, where we provide you with a comprehensive service plan to suit your needs.

Container Depots Services

Every day the container depot plays various roles. The operators provide its service to huge numbers of container fleet owners and haulers’. The container depot operator also tries to ser-vice every container fleets operators within 45 minutes. Here are some of the basic services provided at the container depot. 

 • Consolidation is one of the key features of a freight box depository. Along with the re-pair, maintenance, and cleaning of cargo boxes.

• Depots also help with administrative and documentation procedures.

• Container depots are often used for the shipping storage containers if the need arises. The freight boxes that they hold in reserve are used if there is a shortage flow. This en-sures that there is a smooth flow of cargoes.

• They are often used for retrofitting purposes.

• Some depositories are also configured for processing Out of Gauge (OOG) goods which are extremely variable in structure from the generic freight boxes.

• They also help in the creation of CSC certifications.

Ownership of Container Depots

Container depots can be owned by the state, private or private-public.

In Europe and North America, separate parties assume ownership, such as port managers, rail companies, and shipping companies. In Asia, India and China are largely state-owned, in par-ticular, cargo box depots in India are operated by the Indian Container Company (CONCOR). The majority of ICDs in East Africa fall within the private sector, whilst private-public partner-ships are welcomed.

The increasing demand for containerization creates a close relationship between container de-pot, on dock and haulage industry, and shipping liners. There is increased pressure on container depot capacity to increase the operational efficiency so that they can perform efficient opera-tion to their customers. The efficient gate operations are very much required to container de-pot since their impacts are not isolated to the efficiency of the operation within the depot but also encompasses the road traffic on nearby freeways.

Will you need to use a container depot? Find the closest depository by visiting our website. We've already got everything in store for you!