Photo: Supplied
Sea containers provide affordable storage, a garage or can be modified to create living spaces.
Wakely Transportation Services Limited operating out of Port Hope offers a wide variety of transportation and storage services including several fenced buildings with video surveillance for temporary or long-term storage. The most interesting variation on this theme is their venture into the sale and leasing of sea containers. These wind- and water- tight units are eight feet wide and high and come in 20’ and 40’ lengths. They offer reasonably-priced temporary or long-term storage and even living spaces.
Wakely Transportation has been selling and leasing sea containers for almost a decade. The firm has a rental fleet of roughly 120 units which are used by businesses to supplement existing warehouse storage and to provide on-site storage for short-term projects, but retail customers are finding ways to use these versatile units to store personal belongings during home renovations or clean ups after flood or fire damage to their residences. All units are delivered to the customers’ locations where they can remain or be returned to the Port Hope site for temporary storage.
The popularity of sea containers has grown significantly in recent years, fueled by home renovation shows illustrating how they are a cost-effective alternative approach to the creation of a segregated space for home offices, gyms or studios. Roughly 75% of the firm’s sea container sales are to retail customers. Jason Wakely, who manages this product line in the family business, reports that one Port Hope resident has built a home created entirely with these units.
Sea containers come in a variety of conditions based on their history. The “one ways” have delivered a single shipment and are fairly pristine, while those with more extensive history bear rust and patchwork marks acquired in previous travels.
Units can be modified to order before delivery by incorporating windows, roll-up or barn-style doors, wiring and a heat source.