World

Choosing the Right Short-Term Storage Alternative

Published

5 years ago

June 1, 2020

There are several reasons why you might be on the lookout for a short-term solution for storage. Maybe you have some time until your moving day with nowhere to keep your things before then, or maybe you’re doing a home improvement project and need to clear out a couple of rooms during building. Whatever the reason you’re searching for short-term storage, you’ll want to bear in mind a few things when deciding where and how to store your possessions.

Short-term storage for three months or less is really just storage for if you want to be able to access your things sooner rather than later. The storage choice you make will depend on the sort of move you are making, as well as the items you plan to store. Bear in mind the following factors when evaluating the options best suited to your needs.

Your Space Requirement

This is one of the main considerations for choosing any storage method for the short or long term. Storage facilities have a range of unit sizes and when you book you’ll want to get a general sense of how much room you’re going to use, so that you don’t get a unit that is either too large or too small. You’re going to want to know the size and shape of the boxes and/or other objects you will want to put in the storage room, and how you’re hoping to store them (i.e. all packed in or arranged according to a specific method so that you can access them when you need them). Use an online storage size calculator and address your needs with your storage facility to help you pick the correct size unit.

Storage Location and Access

As in the first case, based on the purpose for which you need temporary storage, you would choose to rent a unit that allows you easier access than a long-term unit would allow. For example, if you are storing things during a home repair or reconstruction project, consider buying a storage container that you can have right in your driveway so you can remove items quickly when you need them. If you don’t use your things on a daily basis, you would definitely always want a short-term storage facility that you can get to easily and use when you need to do so.

Look for short-term storage facilities that provide drive-up storage access so you can conveniently load and unload your container with the maximum access capability if you’re not storing the unit on your own property.

Cost Efficiency

As for many of your other expenses, the less time for which you’re trying to reserve a storage room, the more you’d have to pay each month. To keep the prices down, it could be better to use a storage provider specialising in temporary storage, because the rates would already be designed with a view to short-term deals. Do your homework, compare rates among a few options, and check out any discounts or offers that might be out there.

Storage in Transit Options

If you’re hiring a moving service to help you pack your things anyway, ask if they’re providing storage in transit (SIT). This choice is perfect for those who temporarily store items in between moves because the movers can collect the belongings from your old house, store them for a certain period of time, and then drop them off at your new home when you’re ready to move in. It is not the cheapest choice and it is likely to set you back more than simply renting, but it covers the cost of hiring skilled movers handling your things. If you know you’re going to need movers anyway, going for SIT will be quicker and more cost effective than contracting movers for moving in and out of storage and paying for a unit in between the moves.

Term Flexibility

You do not always know the precise dates for which you will require your short-term storage unit or even a sequence of dates. This is particularly true if you store your things after you’ve sold your home, but you haven’t decided where you’re going to move to next. If this is the case, avoid the guesswork and search for a month-to-month lease for temporary storage.

Unit Amenities

If you are planning to store paintings, electronics, or other things that may be vulnerable to harm in a storage unit, make sure to search for a short-term alternative that offers both temperature protection and humidity control, if possible. This is highly important if you’re planning to store items during excessively hot or cold times. Just a short period in extreme conditions of temperature or humidity will affect such valuable objects, so you’ll want to ensure in advance that your belongings are going to be safe.

Storage Security

Irrespective of the length of the storage period, you want to be sure that the facility is doing all it can to keep your possessions safe. For a good chance that your possessions will be secured, search for a facility that has facilities such as surveillance cameras, locks, and on-site management. Ensure that the protection of your unit is factored into your calculations, especially if you intend to store high-value items.

Wrapping Up

Ultimately, it takes time to understand the complexities of your scenario, the various choices available in your region, and select the right short-term storage solution. Do not just go for the first alternative you see. Compare a few companies and their storage unit models, as well as the cost and scale, and factor in other critical variables. There are many temporary storage solutions of good quality, such as Safestore Containers, out there and no matter what your needs are, you will be able to find a perfect solution.

World

Criminal probe focussed on Mehtas shipping business

Published

1 month ago

August 6, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

From Monitoring Desk

DUBAI: An Asian family linked with the shipping business is facing criminal investigation in several jurisdictions including in Dubai and Far East where the family’s companies are under active investigation now, according to the authorities in three countries.

Sanjay and Gaurav Mehta, through their companies Best Oasis Ltd in Dubai and Priya Blue Industries in Gujarat, are facing investigations over money-laundering suspicions and suspected links to the Russian oil sector, sanctioned by the western countries, sources shared.

Sanjay and Gaurav Mehta, through their companies Best Oasis Ltd in Dubai and Priya Blue Industries in Gujarat have projected an image of environmental responsibility in ship recycling. They have tout certifications, attend global summits, and positioned themselves as ESG-compliant but their business practices have come under intense probe now. Their operations reportedly involve dismantling high-risk ships, using cash transactions, and leveraging political connections to avoid accountability, a source shared looking into the companies’ affairs. The investigation is being conducted in Dubai and the Far East.

The investigators are looking at the Mehtas operations dating back to 2006 when they came to attention of the law enforcement for the first time. Priya Blue dismantled the “Blue Lady” in 2006, a vessel containing over 1,200 tons of asbestos and radioactive waste, despite protests and objections from Greenpeace. Later, the “Exxon Valdez,” notorious for a major oil spill, was renamed “Oriental Nicety” and dismantled by the Mehtas in Gujarat, drawing international attention. In recent years, their transactions have become less conspicuous but reportedly more hazardous.

In 2025, Best Oasis allegedly acquired and dismantled at least four vessels linked to sanctioned entities, including Iranian and Houthi-controlled networks. These weren’t obscure ships; they were designated under U.S. terrorism sanctions for their involvement in oil smuggling and arms transport. According to investigators, here are the details of the sanctioned ships dismantled by Best Oasis in 2025: IMO: 9155808, Name: NOLAN (SOLAN), Sanction: SDN (SDGT), Beaching: 31 Jan 2025, Plot 16; IMO: 9221657, Name: BLUEFINS, Sanction: SDN (SDGT); Beaching: 26 Feb 2025, Plot 16; IMO: 9105085, Name: CONTRACT II, Sanction: SDN risk, Beaching: Arrived mid-2025, Plot 27; IMO: 9209300, Name: GAMA II, Sanction: SDN (SDGT); and Beaching: Pending/Planned, Plot 34

All four vessels were reportedly dismantled in Alang on plots leased by proxy firms connected to the Mehtas. These short-term leases, approved on a ship-by-ship basis by the Gujarat Maritime Board, reportedly make regulatory oversight nearly impossible. Once dismantling is complete, plot registrations often lapse, leaving no long-term record, according to documents shared by the investigators in Dubai.

Rahul Mistry, a shipping compliance researcher, noted this as a growing pattern: “This is a pattern we’ve seen more frequently in the last two years sanctioned hulls arriving under the radar, processed fast, with no digital trace.”

Payments for these vessels reportedly bypassed normal financial channels. According to sources familiar with the deals, transactions were settled in cash, either on-site or through offshore handlers. One source described entire ship values being paid in foreign currency bundles, avoiding Indian and Dubai banking disclosures, said one of the investigators familiar with the matter.

A retired port official Mr. Akin Yadav, familiar with Alang and Gujarat Maritime Board approvals stated that short-term leases are routinely used to avoid scrutiny, adding, “It was never meant to be a permanent workaround. But it’s become one.”

Political connections also reportedly play a role. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Gujarat State Minister Jitu Vaghani have been linked to approvals granted for Best Oasis and its proxies. While there’s no direct evidence of personal gain, sources allege that both men used their influence to expedite approvals, slow down inquiries, and shield the companies from enforcement.

Despite these activities in India, Best Oasis is expanding under new branding. A recent joint venture in Japan with Hiroshi Abe is being marketed as a clean, regionally responsible recycling partner for Japanese shipowners.

Mariko Fujita, a Tokyo-based maritime consultant, observed, “They’re presenting themselves as a new entity with no reference to past controversies. But none of the underlying ownership or structure has changed.”

In Alang, the situation reportedly remains much the same. Plot numbers are reassigned, cash continues to circulate and the same network of breakers and handlers is reportedly involved. Individuals like Jayant Vanani (also known as Budhabhai Patel) and Ramesh Mendapara are frequently named in connection with specific beachings, including “Contract II” and “GAMA II.” Both have been previously linked to other shadow transactions involving distressed or sanctioned tonnage.

Several yards allegedly connected to Best Oasis, including Shantamani Ship Breakers and Sai Baba Ship Breakers, reportedly operate with minimal inspection, despite numerous reports of irregularities in worker safety, hazardous waste disposal, and compliance with Indian scrapping codes.

This system, according to multiple sources, appears to be intentionally designed to operate in plain sight with just enough paperwork to pass basic scrutiny but not enough to trigger meaningful enforcement. There is no indication that regulatory bodies including customs, port health officers, or environmental oversight panels have conducted full inspections of any of the sanctioned vessels listed. Most were reportedly cleared and dismantled within days of arrival.

Rahul Mistry said: “This isn’t merely a loophole; it’s reportedly a business model. Best Oasis and Priya Blue are allegedly running a high-volume, low-visibility operation that filters sanctioned, end-of-life ships through legal instruments to appear legitimate on paper. This reportedly involves routing untaxed funds and shielded actors through a well-connected political and industrial network. As global scrutiny of ESG practices intensifies, many of these activities are allegedly being whitewashed through new partnerships and branding, but the underlying mechanisms reportedly remain unchanged.”