컨테이너선(container ship)이란?

컨테이너선(container ship)은 국제 무역 및 화물 운송에서 핵심적인 역할을 하는 대형 화물선의 한 종류입니다. 컨테이너선은 표준화된 크기의 컨테이너를 적재하여 운송하는 데 특화된 설계와 구조를 가지고 있습니다. 컨테이너는 주로 20피트, 40피트, 45피트 등의 길이를 가진 금속 상자로, 화물을 안전하게 보호하며 적재와 양하를 용이하게 합니다.

컨테이너선은 일반적으로 다음과 같은 특징을 가지고 있습니다:
1. 화물 적재를 위해 컨테이너를 겹쳐 적재할 수 있는 특별한 형태의 갑판
2. 컨테이너의 적재 및 양하를 돕는 크레인 등의 장비
3. 정해진 항로와 일정을 따라 항해하며, 정기적으로 정박하는 컨테이너 터미널

컨테이너선은 용량에 따라 다양한 크기로 구분됩니다. 대표적인 컨테이너선의 종류로는:
1. 피더선 (Feeder): 100 ~ 1,000 TEU(Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, 20피트 컨테이너로 환산한 수치) 용량을 가진 작은 컨테이너선
2. 팬라맥스 (Panamax): 3,000 ~ 5,000 TEU 용량을 가진 컨테이너선, 파나마 운하를 통과할 수 있는 최대 크기
3. 포스트 팬라맥스 (Post-Panamax): 5,000 ~ 10,000 TEU 용량을 가진 컨테이너선, 파나마 운하를 통과할 수 없음
4. 울트라 라지 컨테이너 선 (Ultra Large Container Vessel, ULCV): 10,000 TEU 이상의 용량을 가진 컨테이너선

컨테이너선은 세계 국제 무역의 핵심 수단으로 사용되며, 전 세계의 상품 유통 및 물류에 큰 영향을 미치고 있습니다.
 
A container ship is a type of large cargo ship that plays a key role in international trade and cargo transportation. Container ships have a specialized design and construction for loading and transporting standardized-sized containers. Containers are mainly metal boxes with lengths of 20 feet, 40 feet, 45 feet, and so on, which keep cargo secure and facilitate loading and unloading.

Container ships typically have the following characteristics
1. a specially shaped deck that allows containers to be stacked on top of each other for cargo loading
2. equipment such as cranes to help load and unload containers
3. sailing on a set route and schedule, with regular stops at container terminals.

Container ships are categorized into different sizes based on their capacity. Typical container ship types include
1. Feeder ships (Feeder): A small container ship with a capacity of 100 to 1,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
2. Panamax: Container ships with a capacity of 3,000 to 5,000 TEUs, the largest size that can transit the Panama Canal
3. Post-Panamax: Container ships with a capacity of 5,000 to 10,000 TEUs; cannot transit the Panama Canal
4. Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV): Container ships with a capacity of 10,000 TEU or more.

Container ships are a key part of the world's international trade and have a major impact on the distribution and logistics of goods around the world.