A storage system having multiple storage sections, each configured for storing containers arranged in multiple rows at various horizontal levels with respect to ground. Multiple lifting transportation devices are configured for moving in a first horizontal direction along pairs of first rails arranged at predetermined horizontal levels in passages between the storage sections so as to take containers stored in the adjacent storage sections and place them to a selected row of the adjacent storage sections. At least one container carriage is configured for moving in a second horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal direction so as to take the containers placed in the selected row and move them in the second horizontal direction.