How are shipping containers ventilated?

This may sound obvious, but, shipping containers are designed and manufactured to be shipped around the world in high seas and in all weather conditions and environments.  Thus, by their very design, shipping containers can only offer limited ventilation.

Shipping containers are manufactured with vents.  Older, used containers tend to have four vents, two each side, they are covered by a shroud of steel to avoid water and material ingress at sea and in harsh environments, and therefore their ventilating properties are limited. 

Newer containers tend to have twelve to fourteen vents in total which offers a little more air flow for your stored items.  Nevertheless, ventilation remains limited and therefore, steps should be taken to protect your stored goods against the effects of condensations.

3J Services offer a condensation limiting product which is applied, by us, to the ceiling of your shipping container to reduce the effects of condensation and protect your stored goods.  We still recommend further ‘common sense’ steps are taken to protect your goods, for example:

• Open the doors regularly to ‘air’ your container,
• Do not leave the doors open during damp or rainy weather,
• Wrap valuable goods in bubble wrap or plastic,
• Cover stored goods with tarpaulins or sheeting (ensure they are dry),
• Do not store wet goods or white goods which may retain water,
• Do not pack goods too tightly, ensure good air flow.
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These simple and cost effective steps will assist in keeping your stored goods dry and well preserved.