Storage Containers

Storage containers are wooden crates and barrels you can "search" by clicking the Shift key once you approach closely enough to see the green circle.

Some quest items occur only in crates; others (typically buckets of something) are found only in barrels. If you try to search but get the message "Nothing of interest here," there is no point in searching that container again. If you get the message "No quest items here," however, a second search may well result in your finding the quest item.

Port Royal
Several quests require you to hunt for items in Fort Charles storage containers. Some of these are well-defended. Your best bet for finding a lot of them at one go is to bring along friends to heal or defend you. Alternately, you can choose a server that is already "Full" and hope to find helpers inside the Fort already.

The Gordon Greer part of the Black Pearl quest requires you to find six chickens in storage containers. The sidewalks inside the town and the dock just outside it have plenty of crates with chickens.