# container ship

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> Container ships are purpose-built vessels equipped with cellular hold structures that allow standardised ISO containers to be stacked and locked precisely—both below deck and on top—enabling large-scale, efficient cargo movement worldwide.

Container ships are purpose-built vessels equipped with cellular hold structures that allow standardised ISO containers to be stacked and locked precisely—both below deck and on top—enabling large-scale, efficient cargo movement worldwide. Capacity is measured in TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), spanning from small feeder vessels of a few hundred TEU to Ultra-Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) exceeding 20,000 TEU. Size classifications such as Panamax and Post-Panamax reflect the historical dimensions of the Panama Canal locks. Containerisation, which took hold from the late 1950s, cut cargo-handling costs dramatically and created the foundation for modern global supply chains.

**Source:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Container_ship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Container_ship)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | container ship |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 94 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Container_ship |

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*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container-ship](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container-ship)*

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