A method of stacking shipping containers, comprising:
- obtaining a first fifty-three foot shipping container, wherein the first fifty-three foot shipping container comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the first fifty-three foot container further comprises a first top corner where the top wall, the first side wall and the front wall meet, a second top corner where the top wall, the second side wall and the front wall meet, a third top corner where the top wall, the second side wall and the rear wall meet, and a fourth top corner where the top wall, the first side wall and the rear wall meet,
- the first fifty-three foot shipping container further comprising a first top corner fitting element disposed at the first top corner, a second top corner fitting element disposed at the second top corner, a third top corner fitting element disposed at the third top corner, and a fourth top corner fitting element disposed at the fourth top corner, each top corner fitting element having an outer aperture located at the outer part of each top corner fitting element underneath a vertical support frame;
- placing, using a mechanical device, a second fifty-three foot shipping container on top of the first fifty-three foot shipping container, wherein the second fifty-three foot shipping container comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the second fifty-three foot container further comprises a first bottom corner where the bottom wall, the first side wall and the front wall meet, a second bottom corner where the bottom wall, the second side wall and the front wall meet, a third bottom corner where the bottom wall, the second side wall and the rear wall meet, and a fourth bottom corner where the bottom wall, the first side wall and the rear wall meet,
- the second fifty-three foot shipping container further comprising a first bottom corner fitting element disposed at the first bottom corner, a second bottom corner fitting element disposed at the second bottom corner, a third bottom corner fitting element disposed at the third bottom corner, and a fourth bottom corner fitting element disposed at the fourth bottom corner, each bottom corner fitting element having an outer aperture located at the outer part of each bottom corner fitting element underneath a vertical support frame;
- and
- manipulating a lock to connect the first fifty-three foot shipping container and the second fifty-three foot shipping container using the outer aperture located at the outer part of each top corner fitting element of the first fifty-three foot shipping container and the outer aperture located at the outer part of each bottom corner fitting element of the second fifty-three foot shipping container,
- wherein the first fifty-three foot shipping container is configured to allow up to six fifty-three foot shipping containers to be stacked on top of the first fifty-three foot shipping container utilizing the outer aperture of each corner fitting element.