Will Japan’s Shipping Containers Be Recycled Into Emergency Shelters?




Could thousands of slightly damaged shipping containers have a second life in Japan?

Sendia is one of the largest shipping ports in Japan. Photos of the port and surrounding area show thousands of shipping containers toppled and scattered but only slightly damaged.

The damage caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami  will take many months and years to clean up and repair.

After speaking to some in the shipping industry today, we are told it is unlikely that most of the shipping containers that survived the Japan earthquake and tsunami will be put back into service. They are still strong but will their slight damage allow them back onto the ships to be stacked 5 to 8 high?

So could these containers be easily converted to ISBU’s and recycled into some much needed Emergency Shelters, Container Homes, and work shops?

 The reconstruction process facing the people of Japan is overwhelming. Modifying these containers into temporary housing units would be is a fast, safe, and responsible program for the government to impliment immediately. Japan already has a couple companies there who have successfully converted containers into beautiful housing units and technical shells.