Stacking Density of Container Yard Equipment

Stacking Density of Container Yard Equipment

Container terminals can have significant variations in the stacking density for the same surface because of the type of container yard equipment. The most common are rubber-tired gantries and straddle carriers, which are associated with average stacking densities; between 500 and 1,000 TEU per hectare of yard space. The choice of stacking density is the outcome of the available terminal footprint and the complexity of terminal operations. Low densities have the advantage of lower capital investments and quick turnaround, but consume more yard space. In contrast, high densities are logistically more complex and require careful operations to avoid an undue amount of container rehandling.