The Container Principle

In January 2007, when the distressed container ship MSC Napoli lost part of its cargo off the coast of Cornwall, images circulated around the world showing crowds of people looting steel containers washed up on the beach of the small holiday resort of Branscombe. Finally, those mysterious black boxes opened, revealing contents we rarely get to see: motorcycles, cookie tins, dog food, shoes, auto parts – a cross-section of the present-day global consumer capitalism. Containers are the medium of globalization. They have not only brought about a comprehensive change in transport culture at sea and on land, but have also significantly contributed to the emergence of a worldwide system of production and consumption. They are the cornerstone of modern logistics.