Standard Containers

 

 

 

Standard containers are also known as general purpose containers. They are closed containers, i.e. they are closed on all sides. A distinction may be drawn between the following types of standard container:

	Standard containers with doors at one or both end(s)
	Standard containers with doors at one or both end(s) and doors over the entire length of one or both sides
	Standard containers with doors at one or both end(s) and doors on one or both sides

In addition, the various types of standard container also differ in dimensions and weight, resulting in a wide range of standard containers.

 

Standard containers are mainly used as 20' and 40' containers. Containers with smaller dimensions are very seldom used. Indeed, the trend is towards even longer dimensions, e.g. 45'. The principal components of a standard container are shown in following diagram of a 20' plywood container:

 

 

Figure 1: Components of a 20' plywood container

1	-	Corner casting	Eckbeschlag
2	-	Forklift pocket	Gabelstaplertasche
3	-	Bottom cross member	Bodenquerträger
4	-	Floor	Boden
5	-	Bottom side rail	Bodenlängsträger
6	-	Corner post	Ecksäule
7	-	Top side rail	Dachlängsträger
8	-	Front top end rail	Dachquerträger
9	-	Front end wall	Stirnwand
10	-	Roof bows	Dachspriegel
11	-	Roof panel	Dach
12	-	Door header	Türobergurt
13	-	Hinge	Scharnier
14	-	Door locking bar	Türverschlussstange
15	-	Cam	Nocke
16	-	Cam keeper	Nockenhalterung
17	-	Door gasket	Türdichtung
18	-	Door sill	Türuntergurt

 

 

Frame and bottom cross members are made of steel profiles, while three different materials are used for the walls:

 

1. Steel sheet, corrugated

 

Characteristics:

	low material costs
	easy to repair
	high tare weight
	susceptible to corrosion
	difficult to clean owing to corrugated walls

 

2. Aluminum sheet in conjunction with stiffening profiles

 

Characteristics:

 

	low tare weight
	high material costs
	easily deformed, very quickly dented

 

3. Plywood with glass fiber-reinforced plastic coating (plywood + GRP)

 

Characteristics:

 

	easy to clean owing to smooth surfaces
	easy to repair
	strong and resilient, does not dent
	moderate material costs
	moderate tare weight

 

The cost advantages have led to the predominant use of steel for container walls.

 

The floor is generally made of wood, usually planking or plywood. Although wood is relatively expensive, it has substantial advantages over other materials: it is strong and resilient, does not dent, may be easily replaced during repairs and, when appropriately finished, has an adequate coefficient of friction, which is important for cargo securing.

 

Standard containers may additionally be equipped with certain optional extras:

 

Forklift pockets: these allow handling of empty containers with forklift trucks. Packed containers must not be picked up in this way unless specifically permitted. Forklift pockets are installed only in 20' containers and are arranged parallel to the center of the container in the bottom side rails. 40' containers do not have forklift pockets, since the pockets are relatively close together and such large containers would be difficult to balance. In addition, the forklift truck travel paths are often not wide enough.

Gooseneck tunnel: Many 40' containers have a recess in the floor at the front end which serves to center the containers on so-called gooseneck chassis. These recesses allow the containers to lie lower and therefore to be of taller construction.

 

 

Figure 2: Gooseneck tunnel in standard container. The Figure shows the recess in the floor of the container into which the gooseneck of the chassis is fitted

 

 

Figure 3: Gooseneck tunnel in standard container. As a result of the recess in the floor of the container (right), the latter lies lower than does a container without gooseneck tunnel (left), so allowing the transport of containers up to 9'6" in height.

 

Grappler pockets: In general, containers are handled by top spreaders using the corner fittings or corner castings. However, some containers have grappler pockets for handling by means of grapplers.

 

 

Figure 4: Grappler pockets on standard container: these allow handling of the container using "grapplers"

 

Special fittings are available for transporting special cargoes:

	Clothes rails for hanging garments: Special lashing rings attached to the top side rail serve to accommodate clothes rails on which textiles may be transported hanging on clothes-hangers. These are often used in the East Asia import trade. Additional lashing rings are installed on the bottom side rail and the corner posts.
	Inlet (bulk bag or liquid bulk bag): Plastic liners may be suspended in standard containers for transporting bulk cargo or nonhazardous liquids.

 

The wooden components of most containers are impregnated against insect infestation, since, when lumber is used, it may, under certain circumstances, be necessary to comply with the quarantine regulations of the country of destination and a phytosanitary certificate may have to be enclosed with the shipping documents. Information may be obtained from the phytosanitary authorities of the countries concerned.

 

Figure 5: Standard 20' x 8' x 8'6" container

 

 

Figure 6: Door side of standard 20' x 8' x 8'6" container

 

 

Figure 7: Standard 40' x 8' x 8'6" container

 

Figure 8: Door side of standard 40' x 8' x 8'6" container

 

Figure 9: Standard 20' x 8' x 8'6" container with side doors [43].

 

Click on the right-hand door to open it or on the left-hand door to open both doors.

 

 

The following are some of the most important details relating to standard container types.

Standard container of steel: 20' long and 8'6" high with corrugated walls and wooden floor
Internal dimensions			Door openings		Weights			Volume [m³]
Length [mm]	Width [mm]	Height [mm]	Width [mm]	Height [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
5895	2350	2392	2340	2292	30480	2250	28230	33.2
5895	2350	2385	2338	2292	24000	2250	21750	33.2

 

Standard container of steel: 40' long and 8'6" high with corrugated walls and wooden floor
Internal dimensions			Door openings		Weights			Volume [m³]
Length [mm]	Width [mm]	Height [mm]	Width [mm]	Height [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
12029	2350	2392	2340	2292	30480	3780	26700	67.7

 

 

 

 

High-cube Containers

 

High-cube containers are similar in structure to standard containers, but taller. In contrast to standard containers, which have a maximum height of 2591 mm (8'6"), high-cube containers are 2896 mm, or 9'6", tall. High-cube containers are for the most part 40' long, but are sometimes made as 45' containers.

 

A number of lashing rings, capable of bearing loads of at most 1000 kg, are mounted on the front top end rail and bottom cross member and the corner posts.

 

Many 40' containers have a recess in the floor at the front end which serves to center the containers on so-called gooseneck chassis. These recesses allow the containers to lie lower and therefore to be of taller construction.

 

 

 

Figure 3: 40' high-cube container

 

 

 

Figure 4: End of a 40' high-cube container, with arrow pointing to the overheight marking

 

The following are some of the most important details relating to high-cube container types.

High-cube container of steel: 40' long and 9'6" high with corrugated walls and wooden floor
Internal dimensions			Door openings		Weights			Volume [m³]
Length [mm]	Width [mm]	Height [mm]	Width [mm]	Height [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
12024	2350	2697	2340	2597	30480	4020	26460	76.3

 

 

 High-cube containers are used for all types general cargo (dry cargo). However, they are particularly suitable for transporting light, voluminous cargoes and overheight cargoes up to a maximum of 2.70 m tall.

 

 

Hard-top Containers

 

 

 

The walls of hard-top containers are generally made of corrugated steel. The floor is made of wood.

 

It has two typical distinguishing structural features. On the one hand, it is equipped with a removable steel roof. In some types, this roof has points for accommodating forklift trucks, allowing the roof to be lifted by forklift truck. The roof weighs approx. 450 kg. In addition, the door header may be swivelled out.

 

These two structural features greatly simplify the process of packing and unpacking the container. In particular, it is very easy to pack and unpack the container from above or through the doors by crane or crab when the roof is open and the door header is swivelled out.

 

In the case of transport of an overheight cargo, the container roof may be left open and fastened directly to a side wall on the inside of the container. To do this, the roof only needs approx. 13 cm (5 1/8") of space.

 

Lashing rings, to which the cargo may be secured, are installed in the upper and lower side rails, the corner posts and the middle of the side walls. The lashing rings on the side rails and corner posts may take loads of up to 2000 kg. The lashing rings in the middle of the side walls may take loads of up to 500 kg, provided that the roof is closed.

 

Usual hard-top container dimensions are 20' and 40'.

 

 

 

 

Figure 2: Hard-top container, fully closed

 

The following are some of the most important details relating to hard-top containers.

Hard-top container of steel: 20' long and 8'6" high with corrugated walls and wooden floor
Internal dimensions				Door	Weights			Volume [m³]
Length [mm]	Width [mm]	Height (middle) [mm]	Height (side) [mm]	Max. width [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
5886	2342	2388	2313	2336	30480	2700	27780	32.8
5886	2342	2375	2330	2336	30480	2590	27890	32.8

 

Hard-top container of steel: 40' long and 8'6" high with corrugated walls and wooden floor
Internal dimensions				Door	Weights			Volume [m³]
Length [mm]	Width [mm]	Height (middle) [mm]	Height (side) [mm]	Max. width [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
12020	2342	2388	2313	2336	30480	4700	25780	67.2
12020	2345	2380	2300	2334	30480	4700	25780	65.3

 

High-cube hard-top container of steel: 40' long and 9'6" high with corrugated walls and wooden floor
Internal dimensions				Door	Weights			Volume [m³]
Length [mm]	Width [mm]	Height (middle) [mm]	Height (side) [mm]	Max. width [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
12020	2342	2693	2618	2336	30480	4900	25580	75.8
12020	2342	2693	2618	2336	32500	5200	27300	76.0

 

 

The meaning of the individual letters is clear from the following Figures:

 

Figure 3: Door openings

 

 

Figure 4: Roof openings

 

20' hard-top container
Roof openings		Door openings					Reduced widths when roof is carried inside
Length	Width	Width	Width	Width	Height	Height	Internal width [mm]	Roof opening width [mm]	Door opening width [mm]
B [mm]	C [mm]	F [mm]	G [mm]	H [mm]	I [mm]	K [mm]
5590	2208	2336	1896	2208	2276	2220	2209	2142	2206
5590	2208	2336	1896	2208	2292	2220	2209	2142	2206
5590	2208	2336	1896	2208	2280	2231	2215	2148	2212

 

40' hard-top container
Roof openings		Door openings					Reduced widths when roof is carried inside
Length	Width	Width	Width	Width	Height	Height	Internal width [mm]	Roof opening width [mm]	Door opening width [mm]
B [mm]	C [mm]	F [mm]	G [mm]	H [mm]	I [mm]	K [mm]
11724	2208	2336	1896	2208	2292	2220	2209	2142	2206
11724	2208	2336	1896	2208	2276	2220	2209	2142	2206
11724	2208	2334	1882	2208	2290	2125	2205	2102	1996

 

40' high-cube hard-top container
Roof openings		Door openings					Reduced widths when roof is carried inside
Length	Width	Width	Width	Width	Height	Height	Internal width [mm]	Roof opening width [mm]	Door opening width [mm]
B [mm]	C [mm]	F [mm]	G [mm]	H [mm]	I [mm]	K [mm]
11724	2208	2336	1896	2208	2597	2525	2230	2163	2227

 

 

Hard-top containers are used for all types general cargo (dry cargo). Their principal uses are as follows:

	heavy cargo
	tall cargo
	loading from above or through the doors by crane or crab

 

Open-top Containers

 

 

The walls of open-top containers are generally made of corrugated steel. The floor is made of wood.

 

It has the following typical distinguishing structural features. The roof consists of removable bows and a removable tarpaulin. The door header may be swivelled out.

 

These two structural features greatly simplify the process of packing and unpacking the container. In particular, it is very easy to pack and unpack the container from above or through the doors by crane or crab when the roof is open and the door header is swivelled out.

 

It should be noted, however, that the purpose of the roof bows of an open-top container is not solely to support the tarpaulin but also to contribute to container stability. Flatracks are therefore more suitable for overheight cargoes.

 

Lashing rings, to which the cargo may be secured, are installed in the upper and lower side rails and the corner posts. The lashing rings may take loads of up to 1,000 kg.

 

Usual open-top container dimensions are 20' and 40'.

 

 

The following are some of the most important details relating to open-top container types.

Open-top container of steel: 20' long and 8'6" high with corrugated walls, removable tarpaulin and wooden floor
Internal dimensions				Weights			Volume [m³]
Length [mm]	Width [mm]	Height (middle) [mm]	Height (side) [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
5888	2345	2365	2315	30480	2250	28230	32.0
5897	2350	2377	2347	30480	2350	28130	32.5

 

Open-top container of steel: 40' long and 8'6" high with corrugated walls, removable tarpaulin and wooden floor
Internal dimensions				Weights			Volume [m³]
Length [mm]	Width [mm]	Height (middle) [mm]	Height (side) [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
12029	2342	2376	2326	30480	3810	26670	65.5
12022	2345	2365	2315	30480	3740	26740	65.3
12030	2350	2377	2347	30480	3850	26630	66.4

 

 

 

Open-top containers are used for all types of general cargo (dry cargo). Their principal uses are as follows:

	packing and unpacking from above or through the doors by crane or crab
	tall cargo

 

 

Flatracks

 

 

Flatracks consist of a floor structure with a high loading capacity composed of a steel frame and a softwood floor and two end walls, which may either be fixed or collapsible. The end walls are stable enough to allow cargo securing means to be attached and several flatracks to be stacked on top of one another. Flatracks are available in 20' and 40' sizes.

 

A number of lashing rings, to which the cargo may be secured, are installed in the side rails, the corner posts and the floor. The lashing rings may take loads of up to 2000 kg in the case of 20' flatracks or up to 4000 kg in the case of 40' flatracks.

 

Some types of 20' flatracks have forklift pockets.

 

40' flatracks have gooseneck tunnels at each end. In addition, they are sometimes equipped with lashing winches with 2 metric ton lashing belts.

 

For transport of certain cargoes, flatracks may be provided with stanchions.

 

Figure 2: 40' flatrack: floor structure with high loading capacity and two fixed, likewise very stable end walls.

 

 

The following are some of the most important details relating to flatracks.

Flatrack: steel frame with fixed end walls and softwood floor, 20' long and 8'6" high
Internal dimensions						Weights
Floor length [mm]	Length between corner posts [mm]	Floor width [mm]	Width between stanchions [mm]	Height [mm]	Height of floor [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
5980	5698	2230	2245	2255	336	24000	2500	21500
5962	5672	2242	2242	2261	330	30000	2200	27800

 

Flatrack: steel frame with collapsible end walls and softwood floor, 20' long and 8'6" high
Internal dimensions						Weights
Floor length [mm]	Length between corner posts [mm]	Floor width [mm]	Width between stanchions [mm]	Height [mm]	Height of floor [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
5950	5675	2428	2213	2270	316	33000	2600	30150

 

Flatrack/Platform: steel frame with flushfolding end walls and softwood floor, 20' long and 8'6" high
Internal dimensions						Weights
Floor length [mm]	Length between corner posts [mm]	Floor width [mm]	Width between stanchions [mm]	Height [mm]	Height of floor [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
6038	5638	2208	2438	2235	370	30480	2520	27960
6038	5612	2210	2438	2213	370	34000	2740	31260

 

Flatrack: steel frame with fixed end walls and softwood floor, 40' long and 8'6" high
Internal dimensions						Weights
Floor length [mm]	Length between corner posts [mm]	Floor width [mm]	Width between stanchions [mm]	Height [mm]	Height of floor [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
12010	11832	2228	2228	1981	610	45000	4200	40800
12086	11826	2224	2224	1981	610	45000	4200	40800
12010	11826	2244	2204	1981	610	45000	4200	40800

 

High-cube flatrack: steel frame with collapsible flushfolding end walls, 40' long and 9'6" high; can be converted to a platform
Internal dimensions						Weights
Floor length [mm]	Length between corner posts [mm]	Floor width [mm]	Width between stanchions [mm]	Height [mm]	Height of floor [mm]	Maximum weight [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
12060	11660	2365	2200	2245	648	45000	5700	39300
12060	11660	2365	2200	2245	648	45000	5950	39050

 

The maximum payload may be used only if the load is distributed evenly over the floor structure. However, if the weight of the cargo is applied to only a small proportion of the floor, it must be distributed and the manufacturer of the flatracks may have to be consulted on safety issues.

 

Flatracks are mainly used to transport heavy-lifts and overheight or overwidth cargoes.

 

 Platforms (Plats)

 

 

Platforms consist solely of a floor structure with extremely high loading capacity; they have no side or end walls. This high loading capacity makes it possible to concentrate heavy weights on small areas. A platform consists of a steel frame and a wooden floor structure.

 

Platforms are available in 20' and 40' sizes. 40' platforms have a gooseneck tunnel at each end.

 

Lashing rings, to which the cargo may be secured, are installed in the side rails. The lashing rings may take loads of up to 3.000 kg.

 

 

Figure 2: 20' platform, converted from a 20' flatrack with folding, removable end walls.

 

Figure 3: 40' platform, converted from a 40' flatrack with folding, removable end walls.

 

The following are some of the most important details relating to 20' and 40' platforms.

Platform: steel frame with softwood floor, 20' long and 1' 1 1/4" high
Dimensions			Weights
Length [mm]	Width [mm]	Floor height [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
6058	2438	370	30480	2520	27960
6058	2438	370	34000	2740	31260

 

Platform: steel frame with softwood floor, 40' long and 2' high
Dimensions			Weights
Length [mm]	Width [mm]	Floor height [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
12192	2245	648	45000	5700	39300

 

 

Platforms are used principally for oversized and very heavy cargoes.

 

Ventilated Containers

 

 

Ventilated containers are also known as passive (naturally) ventilated or coffee containers. Ventilation is provided by ventilation openings in the top and bottom side rails. The openings do not let in spray, to prevent depreciation of the cargo by rain or spray, for example.

If actively ventilated containers are required, i.e. containers with adjustable ventilation, "porthole" containers may be used, which simultaneously act as insulated or refrigerated containers. For more detailed information, see under Insulated and refrigerated containers.

Lashing rings, to which the cargo may be secured, are installed in the upper and lower side rails and the corner posts. The lashing rings may take loads of up to 1,000 kg. The common size for ventilated containers is 20'.

 

Figure 2: Ventilated container: ventilation openings in upper side rail

 

 

Figure 3: Ventilated container: internal view of container. The black arrows point to the longitudinal rails in the container provided with ventilation openings

 

 

Figure 4: Ventilated container: internal view of container, showing ventilation openings in upper part of container

 

Figure 5: Ventilated container: internal view of container, showing ventilation openings at container floor level

 

The following are some of the most important details relating to ventilated containers.

Ventilated container of steel: 20' long and 8'6" high with corrugated walls and wooden floor
Internal dimensions			Door openings		Weights			Volume [m³]
Length [mm]	Width [mm]	Height [mm]	Width [mm]	Height [mm]	Max. gross wt. [kg]	Tare weight [kg]	Max. payload [kg]
5888	2325	2392	2334	2290	30480	2400	28080	33.0
5895	2321	2392	2340	2292	30480	2490	27990	33.0

 

 

 

Ventilated containers are used especially for cargoes which have to be ventilated in transit. One of the most significant of such commodities is green coffee beans, hence the name coffee container.