Ocean transportation is an ancient practice. The trade of goods between nations and across seas is a century old occurrence. The idea of using some type of shipping container — be it sacks, bales, crates or barrels — to carry goods also dates back to ancient times. Now, fast forward to the present. Modern container shipping celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2016 and many buyers and sellers of goods utilize ocean transportation as their primary method to ship goods and services between countries.

The implementation of ocean freight shipping eventually led to a revolution in cargo transportation and international trade. Risks such as delays, pilfering, damage, and loss also decreased due to increased efficiencies and better tracking systems.