patrick.net

Patrick says

The United States’ border with Mexico is 1,933 miles long.

Shipping containers are 40 feet long.

So it would take 1933 * 5280 / 40 = 255,156 containers to span the border.

It has been estimated that there are currently over 40 million shipping containers in the world, with several million in transit at any one time.

Shipping containers are not very tall, so you may need that wall stacked 2 containers high.

Shipping containers are not very secure. Very easy to climb over and chill on top in comfort for the view if you wish. A clapped out used Blazer with a rope could tumble one out of the way, opening a 40 foot gap in under a minute, faster than a knock-off sawzall can cut through the new "border wall."

Even if there came a worldwide glut of them (rn it's a backlog of empty returns) this would be a waste of shipping containers better used elsewhere.

I still think the best solution is mandatory prison time for all employers of illegals, but a wall does help.

The Great Wall of China was built for a good reason, and it was effective.

Hadrian's Wall worked as well.

Automan Empire says

Even if there came a worldwide glut of them (rn it's a backlog of empty returns) this would be a waste of shipping containers better used elsewhere.

Some shipping containers ship hazardous materials, and as a result, either have to have rigorous records on what they contained, or be only used once.

Remember the crazy for "shipping container homes"? It's because often they are only used once. The containers aren't really that comfortable or large either. They are 8 feet high. My grandfather lived in a home where that ceiling was about that high, most people would consider it cramped. It's was easy to touch the ceiling. That's not very common today. By the time you put in the insulation and flooring as well as piping, it's probably 7 feet high.

richwicks says

Remember the crazy for "shipping container homes"? It's because often they are only used once.

I watch a lot of homestead and building channels. I have yet to see a "container home" that looked worth living in. Then there was the guy who made a really cool underground game/media room/mancave in his suburban backyard that was roundly criticized as a firetrap you wouldn't dare invite people into over liability.

He just needs an exit at either end.

Automan Empire says

richwicks says

Remember the crazy for "shipping container homes"? It's because often they are only used once.

I watch a lot of homestead and building channels. I have yet to see a "container home" that looked worth living in. Then there was the guy who made a really cool underground game/media room/mancave in his suburban backyard that was roundly criticized as a firetrap you wouldn't dare invite people into over liability.

I've seen a ton that look great - but the problem to me, is that they spend forever having to modify the container to meet their needs - when building something from scratch would be significantly easier.

I lived in a home made from shipping containers for almost three years in my twenties. Wasn’t ideal, and the dimensions are a bit off. But it worked for a single guy, and the rent was pretty cheap.

https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/shipping-company-move-operations-backlogged-california-floridas-open?source=patrick.net

Shipping firm to move operations from backlogged California to Florida's open ports

Florida has recently broken cargo container records, seen new shipping lines calling on Florida ports, and has successfully shifted cargo that would typically call on West Coast ports to the Sunshine State.

It's the same company that got a ship stuck in the Suez canal:
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/container-ship-stranded-gibson-island-chesapeake-bay/39425843?source=patrick.net#

Booger says

https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/shipping-company-move-operations-backlogged-california-floridas-open?source=patrick.net

Shipping firm to move operations from backlogged California to Florida's open ports

Florida has recently broken cargo container records, seen new shipping lines calling on Florida ports, and has successfully shifted cargo that would typically call on West Coast ports to the Sunshine State.

Little known fact: Cape Canaveral is the second busiest port in Florida and one of the top ten on the Eastern Seaboard, it's mostly fuels, passengers (Cruises), and bulk cargo (oranges, wood pulp), not containers though.

Shaman says

I lived in a home made from shipping containers for almost three years in my twenties. Wasn’t ideal, and the dimensions are a bit off. But it worked for a single guy, and the rent was pretty cheap.

You didn't mind the sea sickness and the squalling kidnaped hookers?

richwicks says

Automan Empire says

Even if there came a worldwide glut of them (rn it's a backlog of empty returns) this would be a waste of shipping containers better used elsewhere.

Some shipping containers ship hazardous materials, and as a result, either have to have rigorous records on what they contained, or be only used once.

Remember the crazy for "shipping container homes"? It's because often they are only used once. The containers aren't really that comfortable or large either. They are 8 feet high. My grandfather lived in a home where that ceiling was about that high, most people would consider it cramped. It's was easy to touch the ceiling. That's not very common today. By the time you put in the insulation and flooring as well as piping, it's probably 7 feet high.

You can purchase HC or High Cube containers that are 9’-6” tall.

Patrick says

The United States’ border with Mexico is 1,933 miles long.

Shipping containers are 40 feet long.

So it would take 1933 * 5280 / 40 = 255,156 containers to span the border.

It has been estimated that there are currently over 40 million shipping containers in the world, with several million in transit at any one time.

https://www.containercorp.ca/how-many-shipping-containers-are-there-in-the-world/?source=patrick.net

So it's totally doable.

But shipping containers are racist.

I was able to spot this stuck container ship yesterday while crossing westbound on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The closer that you go to the western end, the better the view and more obvious that is was a container ship. Not necessarily the best spot to rubberneck, since it was some distance from where I was, but I happened to be be a passenger in the car so I got to rubberneck real good.

https://wtop.com/maryland/2022/04/ever-forward-ship-freed-from-chesapeake-bay-in-md/?source=patrick.net

Ever Forward ship freed from Chesapeake Bay in Maryland

The cargo ship was freed around 7 a.m. after having run aground in the bay on March 13.

Unlike the container ship that was stuck in the Suez canal, this ship didn't block anything much. I think traffic only had to be stopped when the tugboats were making their various attempts to free the ship.

DooDahMan says

logistics experts say the breather is likely to be followed by a tsunami of deferred cargo once the lockdowns are lifted. The cargo volume will far exceed the handling capability of the ports, with containers jamming up terminals faster than they can be transferred to inland transport and pushing vessels into long queues at sea.

Hasn't this already happened?

California land overloaded with warehouses overfilled are going to sink it into the ocean. Americans need to buy less stuff to save CA

This strategy will only work in so far as the Canadian and Mexican ports are impacted and rail and OTR trucking can’t bring those products in. Once this starts affecting exports, the corporate crew will demonize these actions…

I guess having foreign actors "lose control" of a vessel and shut down one of America's busiest ports wasn't enough for an election year. We had to have more distracting nonsense from the media to disguise the Vance vs. Whomever debate.

Interesting narrative given how little we export.

zzyzzx says

Interesting narrative given how little we export.

While true. Foreign countries are going to have to deal with fucked up ports of their own. Storage containers stacked for days.

I generally don't like unions. Certain ones should not be allowed to strike is all.

ForcedTQ says

the corporate crew will demonize these actions…

Already started. Suddenly all kinds a Bots are out in force on X.