GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 24, 2026

Empty Container Relocation

Empty container relocation is the planned movement of unused shipping containers from locations with a surplus to ports or depots facing an equipment shortage.

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Last updated: 24 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/empty-container-repositioning

Category

Logistics Concept

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1 min

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121

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Definition & Explanation

Empty container relocation is the planned movement of unused shipping containers from locations with a surplus to ports or depots facing an equipment shortage. Structural trade imbalances—where a port exports far more cargo than it receives—cause empty twenty- and forty-foot units to accumulate on one side of a trade lane while the other faces a supply crunch. Carriers and leasing companies treat repositioning as a dedicated cost center: port dues, slot costs, and handling charges for boxes generating no freight revenue can be substantial. Unlike a deadhead truck run, maritime repositioning often involves entire vessel-slot blocks on liner services or dedicated feeder sailings reserved exclusively for empty units. Efficient repositioning lowers per-TEU costs and stabilizes container availability across global trade corridors.