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Shipping containers are so large that they are often used to build swimming pools and even homes. This begs the question: how do ports manage to successfully stack all these massive containers?

They do this through a very specific process that begins with the careful inspection of containers when they first come in. The first thing to be checked is the CSC-Plate affixed to each container.

This plate contains a detailed list of the container’s specifications and identifies a container’s maximum stacking weight. It's crucial that port operators be mindful of the containers' physical limitations. A container can only carry a certain amount of weight before it falls apart beneath a stack of other containers, destroying everything it holds in the process.

In addition, standard lengths for shipping containers can come up to over 50 ft (15.24 m) in length, with gross weights of over 60,000 lbs (27,215 kg) at maximum load, making them difficult to maneuver. This is why ports require a variety of tools, such as forklifts and cranes, as well as highly trained operators for moving them.

What else goes into the process of carefully stacking container ships? How is all that precious cargo kept safe and stable? This video answers these questions and more.

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