Military Shipping Container Guide –
How to Open/Close

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Military Shipping Containers: A Vital Part of Military Logistics

Military shipping containers are specialized containers that are used to transport supplies, equipment, and other materials for military operations. These containers are designed to withstand the harsh conditions of military deployment, making it possible to transport goods and equipment safely and efficiently. In this article, we will explore what military shipping containers are, their history, and their role in military logistics.

What are Military Shipping Containers?

Military shipping containers are specialized containers that are designed to meet the unique requirements of military logistics. These containers are typically made from durable materials, such as steel or aluminum, and are equipped with features that make them suitable for use in military operations, such as forklift pockets, stacking capabilities, and secure locking systems.

Military shipping containers, also known as MILVANs (Military Vans), are specialized containers used by the military to transport equipment, supplies, and other materials. These containers are designed to be durable, secure, and weather-resistant, making them ideal for use in harsh and demanding environments.

Military shipping containers come in a variety of sizes and configurations, ranging from small units that can be transported on trucks to large containers that can be transported on ships or aircraft. They are typically made of steel and have reinforced corners and edges to protect the contents from damage during transport.

One of the key features of military shipping containers is their ability to be stacked and transported efficiently. This allows for the quick and easy transportation of large quantities of equipment and supplies, making them an essential component of military logistics.

Military shipping containers are also designed to be secure, with locking mechanisms that prevent unauthorized access. This is particularly important when transporting sensitive equipment or supplies, as it ensures that they are protected from theft or tampering.

In addition to their use in military operations, military shipping containers are also used in disaster relief efforts and other emergency situations. Their ability to be transported quickly and efficiently makes them ideal for delivering essential supplies and equipment to areas that have been impacted by natural disasters or other crises.

History of Military Shipping Containers

The use of military shipping containers can be traced back to the mid-20th century, when they were first introduced as a solution for transporting supplies and equipment for military operations. Over time, military shipping containers have become an essential component of military logistics, with millions of containers in use by military organizations around the world.

Military shipping containers have played a crucial role in the transportation and storage of military supplies and equipment throughout history. From the early days of wooden crates to the modern-day steel containers, these containers have evolved significantly over time to meet the changing needs of militaries around the world. In this article, we will explore the history of military shipping containers.

The use of containers for military purposes can be traced back to the ancient times, where wooden crates were used to transport weapons, food, and other supplies. During the Roman Empire, the army used wooden crates to transport their goods during military campaigns. These wooden crates were often made from oak and were designed to be carried on the backs of mules or horses.

In the early 20th century, metal containers began to replace wooden crates for military transport. During World War I, the British army developed a standardized container for the transport of ammunition and supplies. These containers were made of steel and could be easily transported by trucks or trains.

During World War II, the use of military shipping containers became more widespread. The United States military developed the standardized “jeep container,” which could be transported by truck, jeep, or airplane. These containers were made of steel and could be quickly loaded and unloaded from transport vehicles.

After World War II, the United States military continued to develop and refine military shipping containers. In the 1950s, the military developed the standardized “Conex” container, which could be transported by ship, truck, or airplane. These containers were made of steel and could be easily stacked and transported in large numbers.

In the 1960s, the military began to experiment with new materials for shipping containers, including aluminum and fiberglass. These materials were lighter than steel and allowed for easier transportation by air. However, steel remained the dominant material for military shipping containers due to its durability and strength.

In the 1990s, the military began to develop specialized containers for specific purposes, such as the “aircraft pod” for transporting aircraft engines and the “hazardous material container” for transporting hazardous materials. These specialized containers were designed to meet the specific needs of the military and were often customized for particular equipment or supplies.

Today, military shipping containers continue to play a crucial role in the transportation and storage of military supplies and equipment. The military uses a variety of container types, including steel, aluminum, and fiberglass, and continues to develop specialized containers for specific purposes.

Role in Military Logistics

Military shipping containers play a critical role in military logistics. They are used to transport supplies, equipment, and other materials for military operations, both domestically and internationally. With their durability and secure locking systems, military shipping containers ensure that goods and equipment are protected during transit, reducing the risk of damage or loss.

In addition, the standardization of military shipping containers makes it easier to handle and transport goods, improving overall efficiency. The containers are also equipped with features that make them suitable for use in military operations, such as forklift pockets and stacking capabilities, making it possible to load and unload goods quickly and easily.

All shipping containers are, the same dimensions, except for length; this has been standardized by the shipping industry, the trucking industry, the railroad industry, and the department of transportation (DOT). This was done in the mid 70’s so that cargo can travel on land surface roadways, byways, and railways. The metal doors on the shipping containers are also standardized.

OPNBar Opening and Closing Tool

OPNBar Shipping Container Safety Tool is a reliable solution for opening and closing shipping container doors for shipping containers used within the US Government and GSA Schedules.

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Why are the Doors of My Military Shipping Container Difficult to Open/Close?

Here are some likely reasons a military shipping container door will not open or close. Our hand leverage tool / shipping container door extension handle helps to address these issues.

• Rust and Corrosion: The hinge pins and blade are seized due to corrosion.  As shipping containers navigate through diverse weather conditions and environments over time, they become susceptible to rust and corrosion. These corrosive agents can target the locking mechanisms and hinges, ultimately impeding the smooth operation of the container's doors. This accumulation of rust and corrosion introduces a layer of complexity to unlocking and opening the container.
• Maintenance Neglect: Regular maintenance is pivotal to sustaining the functionality of shipping containers. The absence of consistent upkeep can lead to complications with the locking mechanisms, hinges, and seals. Without proper lubrication and care, these components might stiffen or become challenging to manipulate, thereby escalating the difficulty of opening the container.
• Physical Impact: The nature of shipping exposes containers to a barrage of wear and tear, stemming from transportation and handling activities. Consequently, the containers might acquire dents, twists, or misalignments. These physical distortions can hinder the proper alignment of the doors, rendering the opening process arduous.
• Uneven Placement: Placing a shipping container on uneven ground can disrupt its frame's equilibrium. This misalignment can extend to the doors, making them difficult to open or close. The uneven stance of the container introduces an extra layer of complexity when trying to access its interior.  Doors and lock rods may warp or the container frame is racked so that the door gear will not operate correctly. This may be caused by cargo shifting during transit. Look at the container to make sure that the doors are aligned and level, both top, and bottom.
• Temperature Influences: Drastic temperature variations encountered during transportation can trigger material expansion and contraction. This phenomenon reverberates through the locking mechanisms and hinges, potentially impairing their normal operation. The impact of temperature fluctuations compounds the challenges associated with opening the container.  Water has become trapped between frozen shipping container doors, particularly relevant to refrigerated cargoes, or containers with moisture-releasing cargoes in cold weather.
• Inadequate Tools: The task of opening a shipping container may necessitate specialized tools such as heavy-duty bolt cutters or unique locking mechanism tools. In the absence of these tools, the process can become considerably more demanding.
• Sealing Complexity: Some shipping containers employ adhesive materials or seals to ensure the contents remain shielded from environmental elements. Over time, these seals can harden and resist breaking. Consequently, accessing the container requires overcoming this intricate sealing mechanism. 
• The door gasket has been damaged and is preventing opening. Door gaskets are designed to present two or more fins against the structure or adjacent door. These are generally flexible but when the gasket is damaged, they may become hard or blocked thus jamming the door closed, or preventing it from being closed. 
• Security Enhancements: Certain shipping containers incorporate robust security features to discourage unauthorized access and potential theft. Although these features are indispensable for safeguarding the contents, they can inadvertently increase the intricacy of opening the container.
• The Covid economy had also released many shipping containers in the world which are now often reused and the issue of hard-to-open/close used shipping containers is now a more common issue than ever.

How to Open & Close Difficult Shipping Container Doors

This leverage tool uses the principles of leverage to do the difficult work. By providing an extended area on which to grasp, with both hands, a more stable platform to manipulate the latch handle is achieved.

Designed to fit and extend the door latch handles on side-by-side doors found on the following units with the safety of the truck driver, operator, and worker foremost in mind:

• • Standard Shipping Containers
  • Conex Boxes
  • Intermodal Containers
  • ISO Containers
  • Reefer Containers
  • Military Containers
  • Waste Management Containers
  • Dismountable Shipping Cargo Containers
  • Refrigerated Shipping Cargo Containers
  • Semitrailer Dry Freight Cargo Vans
  • Semitrailer Refrigerated Freight Cargo Vans

This intermodal container (also known as ISO Container, Conex Box, or Railroad Container) cargo inspection tool and leverage safety bar is to aid in opening and closing side-by-side doors found within Shipping Cargo Container Trailer Transportation Industries (Railroad, Harbor, and Trucking Industries).

Eliminates the Need for a crescent wrench, screwdriver, hammer, and crowbar which are commonly needed/used to open stuck shipping container doors.

Injuries from Opening/Closing Hard-to-Open/Close Shipping Container Doors

On a freezing morning, when ice has seized a car door shut, one would never consider using a crowbar to open a car door.  The same thing goes for shipping containers.   While conditions may be more extreme in container operations, is it reasonable to use that kind of force to open or close container doors? Experience suggests that it is not, and often ends with someone being hurt.

Injuries to personnel involved with container door opening and closing are increasing, and often it is a result of an inappropriate technique that is being employed. We might expect container doors to open and close as if they were car doors, without understanding why this might not be the case.

Starting with the structure of container doors, most will have four or five hinges per door. The mechanics at the point of manufacture is that the hinge pins must be all aligned on the same plane (vertical and horizontal) and in line. Offset hinge pins will result in the blade binding when it is rotated about the pin – the more the misalignment, the greater resistance will be encountered during operation. At the time of manufacture, therefore, it might be expected that the hinge pins on every door are aligned and free to fully open (270º of operation).

Let’s assume that the container is presented in pristine or well-maintained condition; why might the door not open with ease? Containers are generally either on a trailer/chassis or on the ground, and in both cases, the position of the locking gear handles are at an inconvenient height. For best results, the handles should be directly in front of you and at a height that is above the waist and below the shoulders.

Technique is all-important. Start with the two lock rods on the right-hand door, lift the handles out of the retainers and rotate them together as far as they will go. This should be more than 90º and rotation beyond 90º often initiates the container door opening process by forcing the cams out of their keepers. Then grasp the vertical locking bars, one in each hand, so that your hands are just below shoulder height and pull back with your body, using your leg muscles rather than your back.

If the door is still stuck, unless specifically advised against doing so (ie. the container is carrying a flexitank or bulk cargo), open the locking bars on the left-hand door and then grasp the inner locking rod of both doors and pull back, again using your body not your back. If the door still will not open, ask a colleague to pull on one door while you pull on the other.

Injuries almost always occur at the point frustration takes over and mechanical means are employed – the crowbar or a fork truck. So why will the door not open? Generally, this can be attributed to one of four reasons:

• The container frame is racked so that the door gear will not operate correctly. This may be caused by cargo shifting during transit. Look at the container to make sure that the doors are aligned and level, both top, and bottom.
• The hinge pins and blade are seized due to corrosion.
• The door gasket has been damaged and is preventing container door opening. Door gaskets are designed to present two or more fins against the structure or adjacent door. These are generally flexible but when the gasket is damaged, it may become hard or blocked thus jamming the door closed, or preventing it from being closed.
• Water has become trapped between the doors and frozen, particularly relevant to refrigerated cargoes, or containers with moisture-releasing cargoes in cold weather.

Doors that open but are stiff to move may suffer from the first two reasons above, along with possible misaligned hinge pins. Pins can become misaligned by damage to the ‘J-bar’ which has twisted one or more pins, or a hinged blade or pin has incorrectly aligned the blade with the hinges on the door.  Adding a backing plate under a single hinge blade may help take the blades out of alignment.  When a hinged blade needs to be refitted because of damage or corrosion and a doubler plate is required, plates should be inserted under all the blades on that door.

The safe operation of doors requires that some attention be given to them. Many hinges have coatings on the inner surface of the hinge blade, while others use plastic liners, both of which are designed to protect against corrosion. Some designs are fitted with greasing apertures. Fundamental to success is the examination and maintenance processes.

Typically, doors will be opened for in-service inspections and off-hires. Where oil does not free the hinges, repair work is probably necessary. An inspection is required to check that the hinges and hinge pin welds are not broken or cracked. Opening doors could be done when a depot releases a unit for packing, since it may have been in the stack for a prolonged period.

If the doors cannot be opened to pack a container, send the unit back! If it is already packed and you need to open the doors, but they will not open by hand, try to pull both doors open at the same time with increasing power. If you need more than two people, ensure you tell the container operator, especially if, as a result of container door opening, the locking gear or doors are or become damaged.

And, when you are opening a packed container, remember to watch out for those packages that are just about to fall out. In all these matters, be alert that the doors are big and heavy – treat them with respect and report anything unusual.

Source: TT Club

Equip operators with the proper tools needed and promote safety to help them avoid injury.

Related: Injuries from Opening/Closing Hard to Open/Close Shipping Container Doors