Shipper-Owned Containers (SOC): Why Importers and Exporters Are Adopting Them
Amid global maritime volatility, the Shipper Owned Container (SOC) model is gaining ground among importers, exporters and logistics operators. Econtainers Global has made it part of its international strategy, backed by container inventory distributed across more than 27 countries.
What is a Shipper Owned Container?
In the traditional model, cargo travels in a carrier-owned container (COC): the shipping line provides the box and the shipper has to return it within a set number of free days. After that, detention and demurrage charges start to accrue for every extra day.
In the SOC model, the container belongs to the shipper, or is leased by it from a supplier such as Econtainers. The shipper books only the space on the vessel, and the box is its own to use, store or send on its next trip.
| Carrier-owned (COC) | Shipper-owned (SOC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides the container | The shipping line | The shipper (owned or leased) |
| Free days | Limited; detention charges after that | No detention charges from the carrier |
| Availability in peak season | Depends on the carrier's equipment | Guaranteed by your own fleet |
| Use at destination | Must be returned empty | Can be stored, reused or sold |
Why companies are switching
The SOC scheme lets companies depend less on shipping lines and gain more control over times, costs and equipment availability. According to Econtainers Global, strategically distributed inventory guarantees real container availability, optimizes delivery times and brings financial predictability.
- Planning: direct access to equipment lets customers schedule shipments further in advance.
- Cost control: detention charges from the carrier disappear.
- Flexibility: the container can serve as storage at origin or destination between trips.
"The industry now demands more flexibility. The SOC model offers more efficient solutions for companies that need control over their equipment."
— Andrés Valencia, CEO of Econtainers Global
A real case: from US$100 to US$5 a day
Aglomacol, an industrial company, cut its detention costs from more than US$100 per container per day to about US$5 per day after adopting the SOC model with Econtainers.
Want to move to SOC? Ask us for a purchase or one-way lease quote. Buy or lease your SOC fleet
A company does not need to buy its whole fleet to work under SOC. Econtainers offers three ways to get the equipment:
| Lease type | Term | Main benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term lease | 3 to 8 years | The most competitive rates, for continuous operations and carrier or operator fleets |
| Short-term lease | 1 month to 3 years | Flexibility for specific projects, without a long-term commitment |
| One-way lease | A single trip | Lower cost: the container is used for one voyage, with no charge for returning it empty |
The one-way lease fits SOC shipments especially well: the container is used for a single voyage and dropped off at destination, with no cost for returning it empty. For recurring flows, buying cargo-worthy dry containers is usually the most economical option. Compare both paths in buy or lease a shipping container.
A strategic tool
With more than 12 years of experience in the container industry, Econtainers sees the SOC model as a strategic tool for companies seeking operational control, lower costs and more resilient supply chains in international trade. It is also one of the reasons the company now runs containers under its own ECGU owner code.
This article was first published in Spanish by Mundo Marítimo on May 15, 2026.