BBC Box
Encyclopedia
The Box or BBC Box is a single ISO intermodal container
that started to be tracked by BBC News
in September 2008. The intention was to track the container for a period of one year, in a project to study international trade
and globalization
. The Box was fitted with tracking equipment and painted in a special one-off livery
.
with various cargoes. An on-board GPS unit tracked the Box's location and this was used to update a map showing the current location and previous route. If the container's GPS or communications signal was obstructed (such as having been stacked too far inside the ship's hold
, the ship's own GPS location was being used to manually update a map. The tracking unit suffered technical problems during December 2008.
The Box was painted in a special BBC paint scheme and was named after the book, The Box
, covering the effects of containerisation. The project is being assisted by the Container Shipping Information Service.
-based bottling plant to Shanghai
, China
. On arrival in Shanghai, the Box was met and reported on by British school pupils on a trip to China.
(empty): from Southampton Maritime, England to a "dry port
" at Coatbridge
, Scotland (by rail, behind Freightliner 66
594 NYK Spirit of Kyoto
)
Chivas Regal
Scotch Whisky
: from Paisley via Greenock
, Scotland (by road)
Tape measure
s/cosmetics
/gardening
products for Big Lots
: from Port of Shanghai via Japan and Pacific Ocean
to Port of Los Angeles
, United States (on board NYK Starlight);
ink
/spearmint flavoring/additives
/polyester fiber
: from New York, (on board Iwato, IMO9106807, formerly Eagle I)
Monosodium glutamate
and auto part
s: from Santos via Cape of Good Hope
and Singapore
(on board Aquitania, IMO9178288, Callsign A8HJ6)
Various (consolidated cargo): from Yokohama 15 August 2009 (on board Ratana Thida/230, IMO9117129, Callsign HSAG2)
Tinned Catfood : 25 September 2009 Lat Krabang
, Bangkok, Thailand, Due to arrive Southampton, United Kingdom 21 October 2009
Later arrived in Southampton on 22 October at around 3am, unloaded with crane L, being driven by Lee Harfield, the same driver that had loaded it when it left Southampton.
GPS tracking stopped on 2009-04-04, shortly after passing Mauritius
.
Intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
that started to be tracked by BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
in September 2008. The intention was to track the container for a period of one year, in a project to study international trade
International trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product...
and globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
. The Box was fitted with tracking equipment and painted in a special one-off livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
.
Overview
The tracking project was launched on 8 September 2008. The project tracked a standard 40 feet (12.2 m) shipping container as it was transported by the Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) shipping line using intermodal freight transportIntermodal freight transport
Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation , without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes. The method reduces cargo handling, and so improves security, reduces damages and...
with various cargoes. An on-board GPS unit tracked the Box's location and this was used to update a map showing the current location and previous route. If the container's GPS or communications signal was obstructed (such as having been stacked too far inside the ship's hold
Hold (ship)
thumb|right|120px|View of the hold of a container shipA ship's hold is a space for carrying cargo. Cargo in holds may be either packaged in crates, bales, etc., or unpackaged . Access to holds is by a large hatch at the top...
, the ship's own GPS location was being used to manually update a map. The tracking unit suffered technical problems during December 2008.
The Box was painted in a special BBC paint scheme and was named after the book, The Box
The Box (book)
The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger is a book by Marc Levinson charting the historic rise of the intermodal container and how it changed the economic landscape on a major scale...
, covering the effects of containerisation. The project is being assisted by the Container Shipping Information Service.
Cargoes
The box started off empty, travelling to its first destination under the BBC branding. The first cargo was a consignment of whisky from a GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
-based bottling plant to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. On arrival in Shanghai, the Box was met and reported on by British school pupils on a trip to China.
(empty): from Southampton Maritime, England to a "dry port
Dry port
A dry port is an inland intermodal terminal directly connected by road or rail to a seaport and operating as a centre for the transshipment of sea cargo to inland destinations....
" at Coatbridge
Coatbridge Central railway station
Coatbridge Central railway station is located in the town of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the Motherwell to Cumbernauld Line. Train services are provided by First ScotRail.-Architecture and history:...
, Scotland (by rail, behind Freightliner 66
British Rail Class 66
The Class 66 is a six axle diesel electric freight locomotive developed in part from the British Rail Class 59, for use on the railways of the UK. Since its introduction the class has been successful and has been sold to British and other European railway companies...
594 NYK Spirit of Kyoto
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
)
- to PaisleyPaisleyPaisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, Scotland (by road)
Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal is a blended Scotch whisky produced by Chivas Brothers, owned by Pernod Ricard. According to the brand packaging, Chivas Brothers was first established in 1801 in Aberdeen, Scotland. The Chivas brand's home is Strathisla Distillery at Keith, Moray in Speyside, Scotland.It is the...
Scotch Whisky
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...
: from Paisley via Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Scotland (by road)
- via Port of BelfastPort of BelfastBelfast Harbour is a major maritime gateway in Northern Ireland, serving the Northern Ireland economy and increasingly that of the Republic of Ireland...
, Northern Ireland, to Port of SouthamptonPort of SouthamptonThe Port of Southampton is a major passenger and cargo port located in the central part of the south coast of England. It benefits from shelter provided by the Isle of Wight and Southampton Water, unique "double tides" and close proximity to the motorway and rail networks...
(on board Vega Stockholm) - via Suez CanalSuez CanalThe Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
and Gulf of AdenGulf of AdenThe Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. In the northwest, it connects with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which is about 20 miles wide....
; reloaded at Port of SingaporePort of SingaporeThe Port of Singapore refers to the collective facilities and terminals that conduct maritime trade handling functions in Singapore's harbours and which handle Singapore's shipping...
, to Port of ShanghaiPort of ShanghaiThe Port of Shanghai, located in the vicinity of Shanghai, comprises a deep-sea port and a river port.In 2010, Shanghai port overtook Singapore port to become the world's busiest container port...
, China (on board Copenhagen Express)
Tape measure
Tape measure
A tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible form of ruler. It consists of a ribbon of cloth, plastic, fiber glass, or metal strip with linear-measurement markings. It is a common measuring tool. Its flexibility allows for a measure of great length to be easily carried in pocket or toolkit and...
s/cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
/gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
products for Big Lots
Big Lots
Big Lots, Inc. is a Fortune 500 retail corporation with annual revenues well over $4 billion.Its department stores focus mainly on selling closeout and overstock merchandise. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio, USA and currently operates over 1,400 stores in 47 states...
: from Port of Shanghai via Japan and Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
to Port of Los Angeles
Port of Los Angeles
The Port of Los Angeles, also called Los Angeles Harbor and WORLDPORT L.A, is a port complex that occupies of land and water along of waterfront. The port is located on San Pedro Bay in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, approximately south of downtown...
, United States (on board NYK Starlight);
- via New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
(by rail) - to PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
(by road)
ink
Ink
Ink is a liquid or paste that contains pigments and/or dyes and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing and/or writing with a pen, brush, or quill...
/spearmint flavoring/additives
Food additive
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance its taste and appearance.Some additives have been used for centuries; for example, preserving food by pickling , salting, as with bacon, preserving sweets or using sulfur dioxide as in some wines...
/polyester fiber
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
: from New York, (on board Iwato, IMO9106807, formerly Eagle I)
- to Santos, Brazil (by sea)
Monosodium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate, also known as sodium glutamate or MSG, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids....
and auto part
Auto part
This is a list of auto parts, which are manufactured components of automobiles:-Body and exterior:Body components, including windows and trim:-Engine cooling system:* Air blower* Coolant hose* Cooling fan* Fan blade* Fan clutch* Radiator...
s: from Santos via Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
(on board Aquitania, IMO9178288, Callsign A8HJ6)
- reloaded at Port of Hong KongPort of Hong KongThe Port of Hong Kong, located by the South China Sea, is a deepwater seaport dominated by trade in containerised manufactured products, and to a lesser extent raw materials and passengers. A key factor in the economic development of Hong Kong, the natural shelter and deep waters of Victoria...
to Port of YokohamaPort of YokohamaThe is operated by the Port and Harbor Bureau of the City of Yokohama in Japan. It opens onto Tokyo Bay. The port is located at a latitude of 35.27.–00°N and a longitude of 139.38–46°E. To the south lies the Port of Yokosuka; to the north, the ports of Kawasaki and Tokyo.-Facilities:Yokohama Port...
, Japan (on board NYK Clara, IMO9355408, Callsign 9VFW9)
Various (consolidated cargo): from Yokohama 15 August 2009 (on board Ratana Thida/230, IMO9117129, Callsign HSAG2)
- to Laem ChabangLaem ChabangLaem Chabang is a city in Chonburi Province, Thailand. It covers the tambon Bang Lamung of Bang Lamung district, and the complete tambon Bueng, Sura Sak, Thung Su Khla and parts of Nong Kham of Si Racha district...
, Thailand (expected: 23 August 2009)
Tinned Catfood : 25 September 2009 Lat Krabang
Lat Krabang
Lat Krabang is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, located in the east of the town.Neighboring districts are Bang Bo, Bang Sao Thong and Bang Phli , Prawet, Saphan Sung, Min Buri and Nong Chok and Mueang Chachoengsao .In October 2005 the plan to create the special administrative area Nakhon...
, Bangkok, Thailand, Due to arrive Southampton, United Kingdom 21 October 2009
Later arrived in Southampton on 22 October at around 3am, unloaded with crane L, being driven by Lee Harfield, the same driver that had loaded it when it left Southampton.
GPS tracking stopped on 2009-04-04, shortly after passing Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
.