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A Guide To Shipping Container Dimensions

This document discusses shipping container dimensions and markings. It provides specifications for 20-foot, 40-foot, and 45-foot containers, including their dimensions and maximum payload weights. It also describes the various markings found on containers, such as the container number, owner's logo, ISO code, weight and payload information, classification labels, warning signs, and certifications. Understanding container dimensions, markings, and specifications is important for shipping professionals and those transporting cargo in containers.

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Giorgi Kandelaki
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327 views5 pages

A Guide To Shipping Container Dimensions

This document discusses shipping container dimensions and markings. It provides specifications for 20-foot, 40-foot, and 45-foot containers, including their dimensions and maximum payload weights. It also describes the various markings found on containers, such as the container number, owner's logo, ISO code, weight and payload information, classification labels, warning signs, and certifications. Understanding container dimensions, markings, and specifications is important for shipping professionals and those transporting cargo in containers.

Uploaded by

Giorgi Kandelaki
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A Guide to Shipping Container

Dimensions
The shipping and maritime sectors are under a transformation. From digitisation to stringent
environmental protection laws to changing shipping container dimensions, new technologies,
amendments, regulations etc. are continuously being added to the industry.

One of the most significant transformations in the history of shipping and the maritime
sector was when the first cargo container was introduced to drastically reduce the
transportation of products. Today, different shipping container dimensions are used
depending on the type of cargo.

Related Reading: History of Containerization

As of today, more than 17 million containers of different dimensions and types are used
globally to make container shipping the most efficient method of transportation. These
shipping containers are ISO certified, which means that they are brought into business
only when they are manufactured and tested as per the specifications provided by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to ensure that the goods carried are
suitable for multiple transportation modes, i.e. via ship, truck or rail.

Related Reading: 16 Types of Container Designs

In this article, we will discuss the important specifications of the shipping containers,
including container dimensions and markings on them. The materials used for
manufacturing a shipping container is either aluminium or steel, making them excellent
to use for dry and packaged cargo.

The advantage of aluminium dry containers over a steel container is that the former has
a slightly larger payload, whereas the dry steel containers have a slightly larger internal
cube.

Related Reading: What is an intermodal container?

Following are the dimensions of a shipping container which are used in the international
shipping market:

20 ft. shipping container dimensions:


A standard ISO container of 20 ft. is the most popular of all and is used by ships of all
sizes, big or small. The 20 ft container dimensions are as follows:
It can carry the maximum gross weight of 30480 kg / 67200 lbs for general purpose
containers and up to 45,000 kg (99,207 lbs) for flatracks.

A 20 ft reefer container has a payload capacity of 27, 400kg

40 ft shipping container dimensions:


40 ft container dimension offer double the volume as compared to a 20 ft container, and
costs just 15-25% more than the later. It makes the 40 footer, the most cost-efficient
shipping container for goods carriage by ship.

It can carry the maximum gross weight of 30480kg / 67200lbs for general purpose
containers, up to 60,000 kg (123,276 lbs) for Flatracks and 35,000 kg (77,161 lbs) for
reefer containers

45 ft shipping container dimensions:


45 ft containers provide slightly better cubic feet capacity than a 40 ft container giving
valuable extra space to the shipper giving the following advantage:

 Efficient Cargo Transportation


 Potentially Lower Transport Cost
The payload capacity of 45 ft container is almost similar to a 40 ft container.

The above specifications are a representation of the commonly used containers.


Specific container dimensions and capacity the ISO containers may vary depending on
the manufacturer, the age of the container, and the container owner.

Related reading: Handing Containers On Ships: Dimensions, Markings And Bay Plan

There are other dimensions of shipping containers available in the market which are
mostly used for road and rail transportation – 8 ft, 10 ft, 53 ft, 60 ft.

Markings on a shipping container:


The standard for the coding, identification, and marking of containers is DIN EN ISO
6346, dated January 1996.

Following are the different markings provided in an ISO container.


1) Container Number:
The container marking is the primary identification marking on the door end of an ISO
container. It consists of seven numbers and four letters, which are allotted by the ISO to
identify every container to its owner. The number is unique for everyone and is
registered for the records with Bureau International des Containers (BIC), Paris.

Suppose the container number as shown in the diagram is-

ABCD 123456 7

Here the first 3 letters, i.e. ABC denotes- Code for the Owner of the container

The 4th letter D provides -the container category

The first six numbers, i.e. 123456 is – the serial numbers of the container

The last number, i.e. 7 is- the check digit which is used to validate if the owner or
product group code and the registration number have been accurately transmitted.

Related Reading: How are shipping containers made?

2) Owner’s Logo:
The shipping line or container vendor’s logo/name is provided on the end door.

3) ISO Code :
The ISO container code is stencilled below the container identification number and
provides the details of the type of container, i.e. GP (for general purpose), DV (for a dry
van) etc. and also denote the size of the container. E.g. if the ISO code below the
container identification number is 45 G0, the first number, i.e. “4” denotes the code
length (40 ft) and the second number, i.e. “5” is the code for width. The last two alpha-
numeric character shows the type and subtype of the ISO container.

4) Weights & Payload:


All the details of container weight and cargo weight are also marked in the end door.

– The weight of the shipping container: The true weight of an empty container


provided by the manufacturer post the manufacturing process.

– Payload: This is the maximum cargo weight an approved ISO container can carry
– Gross Weight: The total weight of container and cargo within the safe limit
5) Approved Classification society label :
Before the container is used by a shipping company for cargo transfer; it is tested for
seaworthiness and compliance with the ISO standards by an approved classification
society. The label of the class is also provided on the end door of the container.

Related Reading: What is the international association of classification societies?

6) Cube or volume:
The cubic capacity or the volume of the container is marked in the end door.

7) Warning and Operational Signs:


The container may carry various warning labels and signs depending upon its type and
cargo it is carrying. E.g. a heightened container will contain the height or warning stripes
on the top part of the container. Similarly, a container carrying hazardous cargo will
carry a warning sign about the type of hazard or cargo associated with it.

Related Reading: 8 Things Deck Officers Must Know While Handling Packaged IMDG
Cargo

8) Certifications:
Different certificates which are occupied by the container needs to be displayed using
plates, such as:

CSC plate: Container Safety Convention plate showing the ISO container has been
inspected and tested by approved authorities. It also contains details of the owners and
other technical specifications.

ACEP: It stands for Approved Continuous Examination Programme and is provided in


the container. This is a safety program for shipping containers, wherein the container
under it has to undergo an extensive inspection in a container depot every 30 months of
its service. The container owner will renew the ACEP every 10 years.

Related Reading: What is Container Security Initiative And How Does It Work?

For a seagoing professional or anyone who wants to transport cargo through shipping
containers, it is very important to understand different shipping container dimensions,
nomenclature, signals, symbols and signs displayed not only in various parts of the ship
but in the cargo containers too.

If you think we missed some or should add more specifications related to the shipping
container, please provide your valuable comment below.

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