Angus Gillespe 286 pages hardcover
Container shipping is a vital part of the global economy. Goods from all
around the world, from vegetables to automobiles, are placed in large
metal containers which are transported across the ocean in ships, then
loaded onto tractor-trailers and railroad flatbeds. But when and where
did this world-changing invention get started?
This fascinating
study traces the birth of containerization to Port Newark, New Jersey,
in 1956 when trucker Malcom McLean thought of a brilliant new way to
transport cargo. It tells the story of how Port Newark grew rapidly as
McLean’s idea was backed by both New York banks and the US military, who
used containerization to ship supplies to troops in Vietnam. Angus
Gillespie takes us behind the scenes of today’s active container
shipping operations in Port Newark, talking to the pilots who guide the
ships into port, the Coast Guard personnel who help manage the massive
shipping traffic, the crews who unload the containers, and even the
chaplains who counsel and support the mariners. Port Newark shines a spotlight on the unsung men and women who help this complex global shipping operation run smoothly.
Since
McLean's innovation, Port Newark has expanded with the addition of the
nearby Elizabeth Marine Terminal. This New Jersey complex now makes up
the busiest seaport on the East Coast of the United States. Some have
even called it “America’s Front Door.” The book tells the story of the
rapid growth of worldwide containerization, and how Port Newark has
adapted to bigger ships with deeper channels and a raised bridge. In the
end, there is speculation of the future of this port with
ever-increasing automation, artificial intelligence, and automation.
