# Containerization

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> Containerization is the system of loading cargo into standardized, stackable steel boxes that transfer without repacking between ships, rail wagons, and trucks.

Containerization is the system of loading cargo into standardized, stackable steel boxes that transfer without repacking between ships, rail wagons, and trucks. Since its commercial breakthrough in the 1960s, it has become the backbone of global liner shipping and multimodal freight. Standard formats – the 20-foot unit (TEU), the 40-foot container, and the High Cube variant – are governed by ISO 668. For freight forwarders and shippers, containerization reduces handling costs, limits cargo damage exposure, and makes transit times predictable. The term is unrelated to the software virtualization concept of the same name.

**Source:** [https://www.britannica.com/topic/containerization](https://www.britannica.com/topic/containerization)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Containerization |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 93 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://www.britannica.com/topic/containerization |

## Related Pages

* [San Fernando Harbor](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/san-fernando-port-ph-sfe)

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*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/containerization-3](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/containerization-3)*

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