Cargo container

Containers are seen across the galaxy, although many have found uses other than what they were designed for. In essence, a container is a metal or plastic cuboid for storing or moving inanimate objects.

History

Mankind has used cuboidal boxed for transporting cargo, prtected from the elements, since before recorded history. This practise possibly even dates back to Terra itself.

The reason for the popularity of these utilitarian objects is twofold: The flat sides of a container make it idea for the inexpensive display of advertising graphics (compared to the high fees commanded by the less dimensionally-challenged illustrators who emblazon cruisers with company colours), and the enclosed shape protects the cargo even if it should happen to be left planetside in harsh weather conditions.

However, in more recent years the design of the humble container has undergone a lot of development, not without its fair share of political turmoil.

First Draft

In the year 1779, a special church subcommittee determined that one of the major causes of inefficiency when transporting goods was the uneven size of crates and packages. Therefore, the subcommittee created a document detailing several standard sizes of containers, in order that all packages could be neatly and efficiently stacked. This standard, EB17340, was enacted into law early in 1776. All containers must be made to the official specifications, and all vehicles designed to carry bulk cargo should accept crates of a standard size for easy loading. This first draft defined each size of crate as being exactly 3 times the size of the next small size, providing several standard sizes in a geometric progression. The smallest container under this standard (known as class CC1) has width 2400mm, height 3461mm and length 4992mm. The next largest, the CC2, is 3461mm x 4992mm x 7200mm, which is exactly the size of 3 CC1 containers stacked end to end.

Technical Objections

The Galactic Ingineers Guild quickly objected to the standards of the first draft. While this series of progressive multiplication would allow the easy stacking of containers next to each other, it was felt by many that it would be more efficient if each container could be placed within the next largest size, for easier transportation when empty. After 9 months of debate, the Theocratic Science Service published their final verdict: That as the first draft had been written by appointed priests, it must be according to the intent of God and was therefore perfect.