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SHIPPING CONTAINER
INFORMATION
Logistics Management is crucially
important to success
Cargo shipping - HOME
In the shipping container industry, there
are a great number of terms you should be familiar with in
order to understand containers and shipping
information. These relate to container dimensions, container
capacity, container rating, tare mass, payloads, container tare
mass, container payload, general purpose containers, dry cargo
containers. reefers, refrigerated containers, tare weight, tares,
container markings, container classifications, half height
containers, TEU, twenty-foot equivalent unit, knots, cellular
container ships, CBM, cubic measurements. container services,
standard containers, hicube, high cube containers, cargo cubes,
global shipping, import-export shipping, logistics, logistics
management, logistics supports, shipping space, shipping order,
S/O. shipping permits, shipping notes, dock receipts, master
ships, mother ships, feeder vessels, transhipment, transshipment,
transit shipment, dead freight, seaports, ports. freight
forwarders, consolidators, freight consolidators, customs brokers,
customs forwarders, brokers, customhouse brokers, customs house
brokers, voyage, flight. groupage operators, shipping operators,
shipping firms, shipping company, air shipping, ocean shipping,
carriers, freight company, transport company, ETA, ETD, ETS.
transportation, transports, ocean shipping company, freight
containers, couriers, airlines, tariffs, custom tariffs, shipping
dangerous goods, shipping schedules. air containers, ocean
containers, shipping containers, container load, LCL, full
container load, FCL, marine insurance, cargo insurance,
import-export insurance. NVOCC, nonvessel operating common
carriers, NVO, nonvessel owner carriers, nonvessel owning
carriers, ocean freight consolidator, steamship.
Container Dimensions and Capacity
Containers intended for intercontinental use
have external nominal dimensions of:
| Length |
----- |
9.8125 feet (2.991m) as 10
feet;
19.875 feet (6.058m) as 20 feet;
29.9375 feet (9.125m) as 30 feet; and
40 feet (12.192m)
|
| Width |
----- |
8
feet (2.438m)
|
| Height |
----- |
8.5
feet (2.591m) and
9.5 feet (2.896m) |
All the above
dimensions have permissible tolerances.
The 20 feet (20') and 40 feet
(40') containers are very popular in ocean freight. The 8.5 feet
(8.5') high container---8 feet 6 inches (8' 6")
high container---is often referred to as standard
container.
The demand for the high
cube container---hicube---is
increasing. The popular high cube container has a normal height of
9.5 feet (9.5' or 9' 6").
There are half height
containers (4.25' or 4' 3" high) designed for heavy loads
such as steel rods and ingots, which absorb the weight limit in
half the normal space.
The most widely used type of
container is the general purpose (dry cargo) container
having a nominal length and height of 20' x 8.5',
40' x 8.5', and 40' x 9.5'.
Referring to the below, the dimensions are not fixed, in other
words the external and internal
dimensions may vary among containers of the same length and
height.
The container capacity is
the total cube a container can accommodate. The term cube
or HQ often refers to the cubic measurement of cargo. The capacity
(i.e., the internal volume) is determined by multiplying the
internal dimensions, that is, the product of internal length,
width and height. The capacity may vary among containers of the
same length and height.
Rating, Tare Mass and
Payload of Containers
Rating
-
Rating is the maximum gross mass
(or weight), that is, the maximum permissible weight of a
container plus its contents. The rating of a 20' dry
cargo container is 24,000 kgs. (52,900 lbs.), and a 40',
including the high cube container, is 30,480 kgs.
(67,200 lbs.).
- Tare Mass
-
Tare Mass---tare weight or
tare---is the mass (or weight) of empty container,
including all fittings and appliances used in a particular
type of container in its normal operating condition.
The tare mass of containers
may vary due to the different construction techniques and
materials used in the container. A 20' x 8.5' dry cargo
container may weigh 1,800 kgs. to 2,400 kgs., a
40' x 8.5' may weigh 2,800 kgs. to 4,000 kgs,
and a 40' x 9.5' may weigh 3,900 kgs. to 4,200 kgs.
Some dry cargo containers may fall outside the indicated
weight range. The reefer weighs more than a dry cargo
container of the same size.
- Payload
-
Payload is the maximum permitted
mass (or weight) of payload, including the dunnage and cargo
securement arrangements that are not associated with the
container in its normal operating condition. Therefore, Payload
= Rating - Tare Mass.
If the tare mass of a 20' dry
cargo container is 2,400 kgs. and a 40' is 3,900 kgs., the
payload of 20' is 21,600 kgs. (i.e., 24,000 kgs. minus 2,400
kgs.) and 40' is 26,580 kgs. (i.e., 30,480 kgs. minus 3,900
kgs.). However, the exporter may be prohibited to have that
much payload in areas where there are legal limitations to the
overall load of a vehicle.
In exporting, it is common to
encounter a payload of 17,500 kgs. or less in the 20'
container, and 24,000 kgs. or less in the 40' container.
The Marking and
Identification of Containers
The rating, tare mass
and payload of a container is marked on its wall, usually on the
end (rear) door in the case of an end-loading dry cargo container.
Each container has an
identification code or container number---a
combination of the 4-letter characters that identify the owner
(the operator of container) and the 7-numeric characters that
identify the container. The container number can be found on the
outer and inner side walls.
The container number is entered on
the bill of lading to facilitate the identification and tracking
of the container and the cargo.
Dimension of General
Purpose Containers
Dimensions of
Standard ISO Marine Shipping Containers
| CONTAINER |
Capacity |
Recommended
Load Volume |
Nominal
Dimension |
Length |
Width |
Height |
Cubic
Feet |
Cubic
Meter |
Cubic
Feet |
Cubic
Meter |
| External |
20' |
8' |
8' 6" |
|
|
|
|
| 6.096 m |
2.438 m |
2.591 m |
| Internal |
19' 4.25" |
7' 8.625" |
7' 10" |
1170
cft |
1000
cft |
| 5.899 m |
2.353 m |
2.388 m |
33.131 cbm |
28 cbm |
| External |
40' |
8' |
8' 6" |
|
|
|
|
| 12.192 m |
2.438 m |
2.591 m |
| Internal |
39' 5.375" |
7' 8.625" |
7' 10" |
2385
cft |
2050
cft |
| 12.024 m |
2.353 m |
2.388 m |
67.535 cbm |
58 cbm |
| External |
40'
Hicube |
8' |
9' 6" |
|
|
|
|
| 12.192 m |
2.438 m |
2.896 m |
| Internal |
39' 5.375" |
7' 8.625" |
8' 10" |
2690
cft |
2350
cft |
| 12.024 m |
2.353 m |
2.692 m |
76.172 cbm |
66 cbm |
| NOTE: |
Containers with the same external
length may not have exactly the same internal length and width. |
| |
The Recommended Load Volume (RLV)
refers to the suggested maximum cube to use in calculating a full
container load. The RLV can be about 10-15% less than the container
capacity, depending on the dimensions. |
|
|
Rear view of 20' x 8.5' container
Miscalculated capacity may result in a large empty and unusable space
or a shortage in space. For example (see 20' x 8.5' container
diagram on the left), the master cartons have a uniform height of 20
inches, and the length and width are greater than the height. If 1170
cubic feet is used to calculate a 20' full container load, most likely
some cartons will not fit despite the empty space of about 170 cubic
feet. You cannot stuff the remaining cartons into the remaining
14" high empty space. |
SHIPPING CONTAINERS
and STORAGE considerations
- Successful Logistics Management
Throughout the shipping container
industry, there are a great number of terms you should be
familiar with in order to understand containers and
shipping information. These relate to Container
packings, export corrugated cartons, export wooden cases, export
boxes, export bales, container dimensions, import-export packings,
import packs. export packages, import packages, pallets, pallet
orientation, palletized cargo, import-export drums, bags, wooden
cases, wooden crates, shipping pallets, pallet stowing. packing
orientation, package orientation, TEU, twenty-foot equivalent unit,
CBM, cubic measurements, knots, cellular container ships, multimodal
transport, combined transport bill of lading, through bill of
lading. Forwarders, freight forwarders, consolidators, freight
consolidators, customs forwarders, container classifications, box,
LO/LO, lift on, lift off, ISO, ISO freight containers, International
Organization for Standardization. platform, flat racks, general
cargo containers, specific cargo containers, general purpose
containers, dry cargo containers, closed ventilated containers,
container ventilation, open top containers, thermal container,
reefers, freight reefers. insulated container, refrigerated
containers, heated containers, tank containers, dry bulk containers,
unit load device, ULD, IATA, International Air Transport
Association, air containers, ocean containers, shipping containers,
container load, LCL, full container load, FCL. TEU, twenty-foot
equivalent unit, knots, cellular container ships, multimodal
transport, combined transport bill of lading, through bill of
lading, CBM, cubic measurements. container services, standard
containers, hicube, high cube containers, cargo cubes, global
shipping, import-export shipping, logistics, logistics management,
logistics supports, shipping space, shipping order, S/O. Shipping
permits, shipping notes, dock receipts, master ships, mother ships,
feeder vessels, transhipment, transshipment, transit shipment, dead
freight, seaports, ports. freight forwarders, consolidators, freight
consolidators, customs brokers, customs forwarders, brokers,
customhouse brokers, customs house brokers, voyage, flight. groupage
operators, shipping operators, shipping firms, shipping company, air
shipping, ocean shipping, carriers, freight company, transport
company, ETA, ETD, ETS. transportation, transports, ocean shipping
company, freight containers, couriers, airlines, tariffs, custom
tariffs, shipping dangerous goods, shipping schedules. air
containers, ocean containers, shipping containers, container load,
LCL, full container load, FCL, marine insurance, cargo insurance,
import-export insurance. NVOCC, nonvessel operating common carriers,
NVO, nonvessel owner carriers, nonvessel owning carriers, ocean
freight consolidator, and steamship.
Containers efficient packing
Corrugated Cartons, Wooden
Cases/Boxes, and Bales
The basic information on
how to efficiently pack (load) the containers is being discussed
here. There are several container-loading software in the market in
which the exporters and shippers may use to generate the efficient
way of packing (loading) the containers.
The cube relation,
that is, the dimension of export pack in relation to the internal
dimensions of the container, is used to efficiently pack a container
ready for shipping.
Refer to the diagram
below, a regular-shaped export pack (carton) has six different
possible orientations as follows:
Export
Pack Orientation
|
| (1) |
A || D
|
B || W
|
C || H |
| (2) |
A || D |
B || H |
C || W |
| (3) |
A || H |
B || W |
C || D |
| (4) |
A || W |
B || D |
C || H |
| (5) |
A || H |
B || D |
C || W |
| (6) |
A || W |
B || H |
C || D |
LEGEND:
- "||" means parallel
to
- "A" represents the external length
of carton
- "B" represents the external width
of carton
- "C" represents the external height
of carton
- "D" represents the internal length
(deep) of container
- "W" represents the internal width
(wide) of container
- "H" represents the internal height
of container
|
The orientation or a combination
of orientations that allows the greatest number of packs or the highest
multiple of packs is the most efficient method of packing.
Referring to the method (A)
of stowing the container is the export pack orientation (1)
shown above, the method (B) is the orientation
(4), and the method (C)
is the combination of orientations (1) and (4).
The product DX demands the stowage of cartons in an upright position. Other
orientations cannot be used as the product could be damaged.
Further to the above case sample,
assume that the product DX can be stowed in any orientation. The different
multiples of carton (of the product DX) that can be packed into a 40'
x 8.5' standard dry cargo container, based on the external
dimension of carton
A = 18"
B = 12"
C = 12"
and the internal dimension of 40' container
D = 473"
W = 92"
H = 94"
are as follows:
Export
Pack
Orientation |
Multiple
of Carton |
Total
No. of Cartons |
| |
| (1) |
|
D |
A |
= 26
|
26 x 07
x 07 |
= 1,274
|
| W |
B |
= 7 |
| H |
C |
= 7 |
| (2) |
|
D |
A |
= 26
|
26 x 07
x 07 |
= 1,274
|
| H |
B |
= 7 |
| W |
C |
= 7 |
| (3) |
|
H |
A |
= 5
|
05
x 07 x 39 |
= 1,365
|
| W |
B |
= 7 |
| D |
C |
= 39 |
| (4) |
|
W |
A |
= 5
|
05
x 39 x 07 |
= 1,365
|
| D |
B |
= 39 |
| H |
C |
= 7 |
| (5) |
|
H |
A |
= 5
|
05
x 39 x 07 |
= 1,365
|
| D |
B |
= 39 |
| W |
C |
= 7 |
| (6) |
|
W |
A |
= 5
|
05
x 07 x 39 |
= 1,365
|
| H |
B |
= 7 |
| D |
C |
= 39 |
| |
Export pack orientations (3)
to (6) have the highest number of cartons,
thus are the most efficient way of packing. In practice, the orientations (1),
(4), and a combination of (1)
and (4) are often used.
|
Used Shipping Containers Guide |
|
Shipping Containers Buyer Guide |
|
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| Used
shipping containers are perfect for use as secure
storage. They come in a variety of standard sizes
and were originally designed to withstand severe
weather conditions at sea whilst keeping their
contents safe. <read
more> |
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The
Shipping Containers Organisation is building a
useful database of information to create a guide for
buyers of shipping containers which will be launched
within the next few weeks. We are planning a
comprehensive guide for all buyers. |
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