The world is dependant on container ships. A day likely does not go by that something you interact with was not shipped in a container. That was not always the case, and containerization of goods was the brain child of trucking magnate Malcom McLean. Moving cargo before the advent of the shipping container was a labor intensive task requiring every single piece of cargo to be handled numerous times. While the idea of containerization was used during the war, Malcom would be the first to see the advantage of the commercial application of this technology. January 1956 would see Malcom secure a loan of 22 million dollars, which he would use to purchase two surplus WW2 T2 Tanker ships. While initial plans were to carry the entire truck on the ship, it was soon apparent that this would result in a lot of wasted cargo potential. So it was decided to design trailers that the cargo boxes could be detached from to increase space. On April 26th, 1956 100 invited dignitaries were on hand to witness the maiden voyage of the SS Ideal-X, leaving from New Jersey and sailing to Houston. The cargo consisted of 58 containers, each 35 feet long.
As the Ideal-X left the Port of Newark, Freddy Fields, a top official of the International Longshoremen’s Association, was asked what he thought of the newly fitted container ship. Fields replied, "I’d like to sink that son of a bitch. That sentiment was likely due to the 36x more cost efficient value of containerization. At that time, it cost $5.86 per ton to load a ship manually. Containerization cost only 16 cents per ton.
Following the advice and lead of Roy Freuhauf, Malcom worked hard on standardization and his designs for containers were awarded patent protection, which he offered royalty free to the International Organization for Standardization.
The company that Malcom McLean started would eventually be purchased by RJ Reynolds in 1961, the sale would net him 168 million dollars. At that time the company was known as Sea-Land and over the years it would go through many changes of ownership and name, eventually becomes Maersk Line.
I will not go into all the fine details of how sizing and designation of cargo containers today, simply state that the big ships plying the seas now carry up to 2500 containers. A massive change from the original 58 containers carried on the SS Ideal-X.
Read more about Malcom McLean: Malcom McLean - Wikipedia
Read more about the SS Ideal-X https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter1/the-setting-of-global-transportation-systems/idealx-first-containeriship-1956/
Other historical TidBits:
1962 Ranger 4 crash lands on (backside of) Moon, first US craft to reach another celestial body.
1971 Heaviest rains ever in Bahia district of Brazil, 15" in 24 hrs
1977 Opening of Studio 54 in New York, N.Y.
Births on this Day:
121 - Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome (161-180), born in Rome
1822 - Frederick Law Olmsted, American writer and landscape architect (designed Central Park), born in Hartford, Connecticut
1933- Carol Burnett, American Comedian
1938 - Duane Eddy, American twangy guitarist (“Rebel Rouser”; Peter Gunn"; “Cannonball”), born in Corning, New York
Internet Rabbit Hole:
Ok, here is another YouTube series guaranteed to waste some time. A series of short documentaries, many of these are pretty interesting quick snapshots of famous disasters.
Song of the Day
On your birthday, even if you are not Canadian, you deserve to have your song featured. Happy Birthday Duane. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGPG_Y-_BZI
Quote of the Day:
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” Marcus Aurelius.
Cartoon of the Day
Inspirobot
Miss yesterdays Spark, line for line, the biggest Spark of the Week, brought to you by @jimender2 Spark! Pro Series - April 25th 2024
God bless y’all