Did you know? Despite the occasional moisture issues that can occur during container shipping, sea freight remains the most dominant mode of transportation for global trade, primarily because of its cost advantages over air and rail transport.

When you need to move large quantities of goods over long distances, a cargo ship acts like a massive, mobile warehouse, handling everything in one go—and at a surprisingly low cost. Even more impressive, sea freight is the only transportation method that can reach every corner of the globe, making it indispensable for global trade. However, container shipping isn’t known for its speed. For example, it can take over 20 days for a ship to travel from China to the Americas, and over 30 days to reach Europe. During these long voyages, the wooden floors of containers and the goods inside have plenty of time to release moisture, while external moisture can seep in. Additionally, the unpredictable weather at sea and the large temperature differences between day and night often cause the accumulated moisture inside the container to condense into water droplets that can drip onto the goods, much to the dismay of shippers.

Yet, the allure of container shipping remains strong. To mitigate the risk of moisture damage, shippers employ a variety of strategies, from selecting appropriate packaging materials and controlling the moisture content of the goods to ensuring the container is properly sealed. They also often place desiccants inside the containers—like little helpers—to absorb excess moisture and keep the interior environment dry, ensuring that the goods arrive safely at their destination.

By using these clever precautions, shippers can rest easy knowing their goods won’t suffer from moisture damage during container transport.