Difference between Container Owner and Shipping Line

What is the difference between Container Owner and Shipping Line..??

A Container Owner is someone who OWNS the container that they provide to the various customers.. This container owner could be either a Shipping Line like Hapag Lloyd, or could be a Container Leasing Company (leaseco) like Triton Container..

Companies like Hapag Lloyd, have their own fleet of containers and they use it for their own shipping requirements globally.. However no single shipping line in the world can operate with only their own fleet of container and usually lease containers from leasecos from time to time depending on the demand..

Companies like Triton build containers for the purpose of “leasing” it to out to various shipping lines around the world..

A Shipping Line is a company that operates the ships that actually carry the containers (owned or leased) and cargo from load port to discharge port..

Example : Hapag Lloyd, Maersk, China Shipping.. Some of the shipping lines have container services covering most ports of the world, and it is common that they might run into a situation where by they have shortage of containers at certain locations or they might have requirement of certain types of containers (Flat Racks, Open Tops etc) at certain locations..

This is where container owners or leasecos like Triton, CAI, Florens etc come into play..

These leasecos provide equipment in demand locations on various lease terms (short term, long term, master lease etc)..

There are also some smaller short sea/regional shipping lines that operate solely on leased equipment as they don’t want to go through the expense of owning of the equipment, maintenance and repair, relocation etc..

Nimish, thank you for the question and trust the answer is clear..

22 COMMENTS

Vincent Calimoso April 24, 2023 At 8:14 AM

What are the maximum number of shipping lines that can use the same container ship?

- Hariesh Manaadiar May 7, 2023 At 4:21 PM
  
  Hi Vincent, there is no maximum limit..
Subhash Kunnath June 10, 2021 At 3:18 PM

Hi Hariesh,

Thank you for providing a wealth of information thru’ your blogs.

I understand 52% of the world’s shipping container fleet is owned by leasing companies. Who owns the rest? What is the percentage share of those remaining entities?

Thanks again for all your inputs.

Best regards,
Subhash

Louis Carter February 29, 2020 At 6:44 AM

The ship operators would then use these ships to provide liner services on various routes and pay charter rates to the ship owner based on the Charter Party.

Manu Yadav June 20, 2018 At 9:00 AM

Well there might be some companies that do own both containers as well as shipping lines.

Aye March 17, 2018 At 5:33 PM

I would like to know how many container manufacturers in the world and who they are.
How many leasecos in the world and who are they?

Thank you

Ian February 12, 2018 At 3:39 AM

Who do I organise a container through to avoid what appear to be the high costs of moving household goods using a freight forwarder or moving company?

Rensha Rinesh January 10, 2018 At 6:56 AM

I want to know about the SOC containers and COC containers

- Hariesh Manaadiar January 11, 2018 At 1:31 PM
  
  Your wish is my command.. 🙂 Pls read https://www.shippingandfreightresource.com/difference-between-a-shipper-owned-container-and-carrier-owned-container/..
Marietha ngangaji January 3, 2018 At 10:29 PM

I what to know the roles of shipping linr

Jean August 3, 2017 At 10:19 AM

Who will supply the containers to be used for the delivery of Goods, is it the Buyer or the Seller?

Lyn Johans May 12, 2017 At 11:19 AM

Dear Mr. Hariesh,

Is it the company that issue the BL/SB who sets the free laydays for containers at destination port, or is it the the shipping line? (Ex: Blue Anchor Line issued the SB but shipping vessel is CMA)?

Do not know if this makes sense, but give it a try. Thanks

Bao April 2, 2017 At 3:17 PM

Dear Mr Hariesh,

Is there a maximum number of shipping lines that can use the same container ship ?

- Hariesh Manaadiar April 3, 2017 At 12:02 PM
  
  Hi Bao, no, there is no such maximum or minimum number.. As long as they are part of the alliance or on a vsl sharing agreement or slot sharing arrangement, many lines can use the same ship..
Htet Ko Zin February 24, 2017 At 12:07 PM

Thanks a lot, sir!

hassan May 12, 2016 At 8:17 PM

Dear Mr Hariesh

Can shipping line lease container from another shipping line for example YANG MANG lease container from Happag Lloyd ?

rOadbLur September 26, 2014 At 3:46 AM

Hi Hariesh, thx for ur post and it adds values to my little shipping knowledge. Can I know who is responsible to book an empty container and truck to carry it to the port of export? Shipper themselves or their appointed forwarding agent? Thank you.

- Hariesh Manaadiar September 26, 2014 At 5:12 PM
  
  Hi, it can be done by the shipper or their appointed agent..
- Shantkumar January 5, 2018 At 12:30 PM
  
  Hi, it can be done by the shipper or their appointed agent/Freight forwarder..
lonelystar22 September 22, 2014 At 2:06 PM

Can you show me the difference between long term and short term containers? Thank you.

- Hariesh Manaadiar September 22, 2014 At 7:43 PM
  
  Hello Jenny, do you mean Long Term and Short Term lease..??