The Container Guide

A pocket-sized, waterproof field guide to shipping containers and the corporations that own them. 


Almost everything you own or consume has at some point traveled in a shipping container. As of 2009, 90% of the world's non-bulk cargo is moved in containers stacked on transport ships. The top 100 shipping companies together manage more than 17,000,000 containers worldwide. These massive, globe-spanning businesses and corporate alliances shape economies yet they're rarely discussed in popular media. 


The Container Guide, drawing inspiration from classic Audubon birding guides, is a practical field guide to identifying containers and the corporations that own them. Inside you'll find virtually every major shipping concern brought to life in full-color on durable, tear- and water-resistant paper. The included photographs, logos, and container colors will help you quickly identify the corporation behind almost any container you spot in the wild. Each company's corresponding entry provides rich historical background and data on their revenue, trade routes, and habits. 


The Container Guide features informative essays about the impact and finer points of the container spotting hobby: 


Rose George, Ninety Percent of Everything 

Nicola Twilley, Edible Geography 

Luke Iseman, Y Combinator and Boxouse 


Accompanying cargo sighting tips, global trade maps, and informative diagrams will make this the most comprehensive field guide to shipping container companies commercially available. The guide is a perfect gift for the experienced shipping container spotter, the budding infrastructure enthusiast, and the casual reader.