This study provides a comprehensive examination of the container damage management system of shipping companies from normative, institutional, and operational perspectives, while empirically analyzing the structural characteristics of repair costs and...
This study provides a comprehensive examination of the container damage management system of shipping companies from normative, institutional, and operational perspectives, while empirically analyzing the structural characteristics of repair costs and the allocation of liability based on real operational data. As maritime cargo constitutes the majority of global freight movement, container damage occurs frequently, resulting in significant repair expenditures for shipping lines. To address this, the study establishes a normative framework grounded in the Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) jointly issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Labour Organization (ILO), and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the IICL Repair Manual, and Korea’s Container Safety Inspection Standards. Based on these, the study analyzes the criteria for repair determination, patterns of damage, cost structures, and the flow of liability attribution derived from actual operational data. Furthermore, the research identifies persistent inefficiencies in the management system, particularly in third-party damage claim cases, which arise from incomplete documentation, non-standardized claim and fault-determination procedures, and asymmetrical information among the responsible entities. Empirical analysis was conducted using real records from a shipping company, including container repair logs, cost data, and claim histories. The study examined the number of repairs, repair ratios, and unit repair costs by container type, followed by quantitative comparisons to assess changes resulting from specific policy applications and improvement measures. To complement the data analysis, photographic evidence and inspection records were utilized to visually verify damage types and the responsible parties, enabling the identification of practical accountability routes that numerical data alone could not fully capture. Moreover, the study explores how inconsistencies in fault determination emerge from incomplete EIRs (Equipment Interchange Receipts) and the absence of standardized claim procedures, proposing systematic and procedural improvements to resolve these issues. By integrating empirical data analysis with a normative review, this research demonstrates that container damage management is not merely a matter of reducing repair costs, but a comprehensive management domain encompassing prevention, responsibility, documentation, and policy coordination. In particular, by combining visual validation of damage cases with analytical tracing of cost and liability, the study presents a new analytical framework in which regulatory standards, data evidence, and field experience reinforce one another. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to improving the operational efficiency and cost management of damaged containers, enhancing transparency in the distribution of responsibility, and promoting the standardization and strategic direction of container management practices within the shipping industry.
Keywords : Container Damage, Container Repair, Container Damage Responsibility, C ontainer Transport Risk, Case-Based Analysis