Shipping & Storage Container Locks

Would we risk stepping out of our homes with the doors left unlocked or improperly secured?  Certainly “no”, because we know that any carelessness could result in theft and burglary that no one would ever want to be a victim of.  

Imagine when it comes to transporting goods in shipping containers, why should we display a sense of complacency with an instinctive trust that the consignment would be in safe hands till it reaches its final destination?  In reality, many a time we are caught on the wrong foot and will regret the casual attitude adopted while stuffing containers with goods and handing them over to the shipper without giving a second thought about the security of the valuable contents inside. 

The first line of guard against theft from containers is ensuring the physical security of contents inside the container with access control measures like keys, access cards and container locks. 

This blog discusses how one can reduce the chances of unauthorized access and thus secure the valuables inside the containers by making use of locks that are available in different types.

Shipping Container Lockboxes are also referred to as “Cowl lock housing”. They fit the cargo doors of containers and enclose the padlock keeping it out of direct view or easy access. This renders the padlock inaccessible from the front side, and can be reached only from the underside. This prevents an intruder from forcibly opening the padlock with a crowbar, lock cutter or another similar tool to gain unauthorized entry.

Crossbar Container Locks can be installed with ease without the need for welding. They are made of tubular steel and look similar to extendable clamps that are attached to the door of a container, or the door handles itself. A lock helps to fasten the clamp and prevent the door from opening. These locks offer protection against the use of bolt cutters, hacksaws and lock picks to break open conventional locks.

Hidden Shackle Container Padlocks are designed to offer an additional layer of safety compared with plain padlocks. Although its internal locking mechanism is comparable to conventional padlocks, the key difference is that the latch is positioned within the body of the padlock. This makes it nearly impossible to access the latch directly to cut it with bolt cutters or other tools. Hidden Shackle Container Padlocks prove useful in protecting valuable consignments or those requiring a high degree of security. Matching hasps or door fasteners will also be needed to complete the installation.

Inner Bolts have a similar working principle to those usually found in the main doors of homes.  Made of toughened and reinforced metal, they lock container doors from the inside. They are inaccessible from the outside, and intruders can reach such bolts only from the interior through another access door.

Truck Seals are primarily useful in preventing the container doors from opening accidentally. They are not expensive and generally the most preferred method for securing containers carrying low-value general cargo. Although the most common type of Truck Seal is similar to plastic zip ties in appearance, there are other highly secure types made of thick metal bolts that provide a higher level of protection. 

Useful tips to consider when choosing container locks

When selecting a new lock, be sure about the dimensions so that it fits in well with the container being secured.

Multiple layers of security work best. So if an intruder realizes that he has to break open more than one or 2 locks to gain entry, he would rather prefer to move on to easier targets.

Although all types of locks are vulnerable to attacks, it is always preferable to install the stronger and more secure ones that are difficult and time-consuming for intruders to break open. Such locks will restrain thieves from even making an attempt and go a long way in reducing the chances of random break-ins from occurring.