Container Shipping Information Service (CSIS)

The Container Shipping Information Service (CSIS) is an initiative launched at the beginning of 2008, which objective is to explain the world what the shipping industry does and how it contributes to daily life, helping people understand how the humble container 'box' helps them to enjoy the lives they lead in today's world.

Unsurprisingly, the majority of people do not give the world of container shipping a second thought. Yet, without it, many aspects of modern life would not exist in the way we know it. Container shipping is responsible for making available and affordable many of the everyday products and foods that people worldwide take for granted, from computers to clothing, bananas to beer and TV's to trainers.

The Container Shipping Information Service has been formed by 24 of the world's leading container shipping companies to provide information to the public, businesses and the media on this hitherto relatively unknown industry. It also plans to openly address some common areas of general concern and talk about its role in addressing them – in particular, the environment, globalisation and security.

A first step is the creation of a public website: www.shipsandboxes.com, which is designed to appeal to a broad audience, featuring useful information such a 'Did You Know' section and a 'Jargon Buster', as well as covering topical issues.

The following 24 container shipping companies comprise CSIS:

• CSAV Group
• Atlantic Container Line AB
• China Shipping (Group) Company
• CMA-CGM Group
• COSCO
• Crowley Maritime Corporation
• Evergreen Marine Corp
• Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft KG
• Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd.
• Hapag-Lloyd AG
• Hyundai Merchant Marine Co.
• Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha
• Maersk Line
• Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC)
• Mediterranean Shipping Co. S.A. (MSC)
• Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
• Neptune Orient Lines Ltd/APL
• Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK)
• Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd (OOCL)
• Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd
• United Arab Shipping Co (SAG)
• Wan Hai Lines Ltd
• Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.
• Zim Integrated Shipping Service Ltd

(Wednesday 7th May, 2008)