The history of the present standard container began in 1956 after a United States company began constructing containers with reinforced corners for stacking purposes. In the same year, the first containerships began operating between America and Puerto Rico. By 1966, ships loaded with containers began docking in European ports. The first European containership was the 13,382-ton Wesser Express of the German company Hapag Lloyd. This ship entered service in 1968 transporting containers from Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Antwerp and Rotterdam - New York, Baltimore and Norfolk. These ships revolutionized cargo shipping, as conventional cargo ships can take 8 - 10 days to unload 10,000 tons, where as containerships can unload 10,000 tons in 2 days. A standard container of 20 feet by 8 feet by 8 feet is capable of carrying 15 to 20 tons; a 40-foot container can carry 30 tons. There are also many specially designed containers including refrigerated for transporting food.

As container ships using the Panama Canal locks are restricted to 116 feet wide and 1,000 feet in length, the largest Panamax ships are designed to carry 4,442 containers. The first of five 130-foot wide President Truman class ships built in Germany were delivered to the US American Presidents Line in 1988. This company had devised routes for these ships capable of carrying 4,500 containers to operate without using the Panama Canal. This became the way of the future with 97 percent of new orders being for post Panamax containerships.

Regina Maersk was the first of 12 ships in this class ordered by the Maersk line. She was the largest containership built since the American Presidents Line ships that began entering service in 1988. Regina Maersk can carry 6,000 standard containers (TEU) that can be stacked 17 across and 13 high. This class of container ship is driven by the world’s most powerful diesel engine available at that time. They also have four auxiliary engines generating more than the 12,000 kilowatts needed to power the ships electrical needs and refrigerated containers. This type of container ship is classed as open top with no hatch covers. They use an effective pump system for stabilizing purposes that controls the amount of water in the hull.

Regina Maersk’s maiden voyage from Europe arrived at Singapore February 27th 1996. With a draft of 47 feet, there are only a few ports that can accommodate this size of ship. Singapore, Kaohsiung/Taiwan, Hong Kong, Kobe, Yokohama and Nagoya in Japan are the only ports in Asia deep enough. Regina Maersk arrived at New York for the first time in July 1998. She had to be maneuvered into port with extreme caution, as New York’s harbor like all other east coast harbors, are too shallow to accommodate her with a full load. With Maersk building more ships of this size and even larger, the US Authorities were informed they would have to dredge their ports to 50 feet or risk loosing the trade of these ships.