Shipping Containers come in different sizes.
Their width is a standard dimension of 7.7 feet (2350mm)
Heights vary between 8 feet 6 inches (2.59m) to 9 feet 6 inches (2.89m).
They come in three main lengths 20 feet (6.058m), 40 feet (12.192m) and 45 feet (13.716m).
Handling Capacity for Ports and Ships is measured in TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units
e.g. One 40 foot Container equals two TEUs
By 1991, Port Rashid was handling over One Million Containers per year.
George Chapman arrived in Dubai in 1951 to join Gray Mackenzie and Co. (Shipping and Lloyds Agents).
"Gray Macs" was part of The Inchcape Group, a London based Conglomerate.
In the following years, George developed Gray Macs' Shipping and Mercantile business.
More importantly, he grew Gray Macs' Lighterage operation that moved cargoes from ships anchored offshore to Dubai Customs Wharves in Dubai Creek.
As a consequence, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum appointed George as his Marine Advisor.
This led to Sheikh Rashid awarding Gray Macs with a contract to operate and manage his new Port Rashid.
George Chapman became Chairman of Dubai Ports Services, a company established by Gray Macs to fulfil the contract.
Sheikh Rashid formally opened Port Rashid in 1972.
Port Rashid was designed as a traditional Port where cargo is unloaded ship to shore then either moved by Forklift Truck to a Storage Shed or by tractor/trailer and mobile crane to a storage yard.
This worked well for the first 3-4 years of operation despite growing congestion due to increasing volumes of cargo.
Then containers began arriving on ships' decks.
Some saw this as short term but George had the foresight to recognise this as a growing trend
He advocated for Port Rashid being equipped to handle container traffic.
Port Rashid circa 1973
© Len Chapman.
Discharging General Cargo at Port Rashid
© Len Chapman.
Discharging Containers from Ship's Deck.
© Len Chapman.
Paceco Corporation (USA) built the first Container Crane in 1959.
Paceco licensed equipment manufacturers around the world to build and sell Paceco Container Cranes. However, pricing was strictly controlled and each Manufacture was limited to a specific region where they could sell their Paceco Cranes.
Chances of a Paceco Crane being sold into little known Port Rashid were zero.
Sea Containers was a Bermudan registered company operating two businesses: transport and container leasing.
They also leased Container Cranes. These were lightweight cranes built by Leibherr in Killarney, Ireland, ideal for installation on Port Rashid's Berth 10 which had weight load restriction.
Liebherr's production was booked by Sea Containers for a number of years ahead.
George successfully persuaded Sea Containers to sell him a Liebherr Container Crane despite Sea Container's policy of only leasing.
George secured delivery of Straddle Carriers and Yard Cranes from Rubery Owens (UK); not the best design but available for early delivery.
Rolling Transport Systems of Guildford (UK) provided Tractors and Trailers to move containers from shipside to Container Yard
George ordered a Main Frame Computer for Gray Mackenzie's business and made space available for DPS to develop container management software for their Container Operations.
Berth 10 was an open berth and ideal for Container operations. However it needed strengthening to carry the weight of Container Cranes.
Sir William Halcrown and Partners designed the structural changes needed and Costains International made the changes.
It was planned for a P&O ship to be the first under the new Liebherr Container Crane.
In the way of things in Dubai, a small Italian Freighter arrived unannounced at 0600 hours carrying 12 containers.
Its Captain said "We heard you were getting a Container Crane so we loaded containers and set sail for Port Rashid"!
That was the first ship to use the Container Crane.
The planned ceremony was abandonded!
Within 10 years of opening, Port Rashid had changed from a conventional General Cargo Port to an internationally recognised Container Terminal servicing major shipping lines trading between Asia, Europe and US.
George Chapman OBE
at Port Rashid Container Terminal 1980
© Len Chapman
George Chapman was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1987 for his services to shipping.
He previously received an MBE Award in 1959 for services in Oman at a time when there was an insurgency in Oman.