This Section will Teach you some Container Basics

I’m not sure I have enough room on-site. If you’re concerned that you don’t have enough room on-site, you can take pictures and email them to us at seacans@derksonent.com We’ll be able to tell you whether we can or cannot deliver to that location. Which way do the doors get loaded? Shipping containers can be loaded with the doors either to the front or the back of the truck. Please let us know which way you want the container loaded so the doors are facing the right way when we get there. How do I prepare my site for delivery? Clearing the area for the truck and creating a foundation for the container are the most important things you need to do to prepare your site. We recommend placing the container on 6” treated wooden blocks under only the four corners of the container. Elevating the container above ground will allow for proper airflow and not trap moisture beneath the container, which can cause condensation and floor rot. Can you deliver to tight areas? This depends on the driver and the customer. If the driver is not comfortable delivering to that area but you’re willing to accept responsibility for any damage that might occur, there is a waiver you can sign prior to guiding our driver in placing the container where you want it. If you don’t want to sign the waiver, the driver will place the container where they are comfortable and it is your responsibility to move it where you want. * An additional fuel surcharge of 20% will be applied.

With the surge in shipping container use during the 1960s, the need for a standardised safety protocol became crucial. This led to the creation of the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC). The CSC plate on each container signifies adherence to these important safety standards. This initiative, established by the International Maritime Organisation and the United Nations, aimed to ensure safe handling, stacking, and transportation of shipping containers globally. Its purpose was to protect those handling the containers and to provide a set of universally agreed-upon regulations, enhancing safety in the worldwide movement of containers. The CSC Plate Is attached to the rear of the container & gives basic information about the container: The Approval Reference is the reference that is supplied by the Underwriter such as Bureau Veritas, Lloyds Register of Shipping, American Bureau of Shipping, etc. they will have vetted the drawings of the container prior to production and supplied this number as an acceptable reference. The Date of Manufacture. The Container Identity Number which is issued by the buyer although recently this may also include the manufacturers batch sequence number with the owner’s number placed elsewhere on a larger plate. The Gross Weight maximum allowed when loaded. The Stacking Weight. The amount of weight the container is built to carry on top of it in a stack. Racking Values the amount of transverse distortion under load. Either be an ACEP NUMBER (if it’s an ex Shipping Line Container) or date of next examination due by. Cargo worthy The purpose of regular surveys is to ensure that damage has not reduced the containers original manufactured properties, corrosion, missing parts, wear & tear etc. That the container, despite its in-service use, is still capable of being lifted and carrying the amount of cargo safely it was designed to carry without impairment to handlers, or public safety, or a hazard to other containers, vessels or road & train vehicles. Survey & Surveyor The surveyor will need to inspect all aspects of the container, That’s all four sides, the underside and the roof, also the entire interior. Special attention is paid to the End Frame structures, Corner Posts, Corner Castings, Headers, Cills, Bottom and Top Rails. All of which must be, without deformation, depleting corrosion and all welds must be sound and not show signs of stress or fracture. Panels are a Secondary feature and may have some small acceptable indentations but no dents are interfering with the ISO dimensions of the container. The Interior should be clean and the floor visible for inspection. The surveyor should have a Maritime Shipping Container Inspectors Accreditation, (Lloyds, Bureau Veritas, IICL) a Professional Indemnity & Public Liability Insurance. ACEP (Approved continuous examination program) To administer and physically carry out survey’s every 30 months on a fleet of several hundred thousand in-service shipping containers would be virtually impossible, so the International Convention for Safe Containers created a scheme whereby contracting shipping lines agreed that each and every time an empty container was restituted after use, it would placed into a depot that would carry out at point of gate entry anywhere in the world, a survey of the container by an operative qualified to ascertain the containers structural soundness. The CSC Plate will have the ACEP registration number of that shipping line engraved into the CSC plate; it is not transferable to any other Shipping Line or any subsequent buyers of the container. Certificate of survey This is written confirmation by an accredited body that the container has been surveyed and that it meets CSC specifications Annex 1 Chapter 1, Regulation 2 of the International Convention for Safe Containers and is in the surveyor’s opinion at the time of survey a Cargo worthy container. Periodic examination scheme (PES) This is the scheme that is designed for small fleet or single container ownership. Every Container over five years of age must have a physical survey to ascertain its ability to continue safely being used as a means of transporting cargo, or, that it is safe to be lifted and be included in stack situations with in-fleet containers without detriment to personnel or other equipment. Certification is limited to a maximum of thirty months during which time the owner or lessee must continue to ensure that the container is maintained in a safe and serviceable condition. Containers that are converted to a use other than cargo carrying that can still be regarded as ISO units and is being also shipped must have this certification Shippers own This is a term given to a single or small multiple of containers that are not owned by the shipping line transporting the container and they are usually booked passage by a third party Freight Forwarder. The responsibility for the structural soundness of a shippers own container is entirely the owners and while shipping & handling any damage incurred is the owner’s responsibility to ensure it is repaired to a CSC standard even if it’s caused by and attributed to another party. Decals These are the letters and numbers on the container. The identification Number has 4 Alpha Letters & 7 Digits and is displayed on all four sides and twice on the roof (one Each End)Further to this are the ISO Decals which denote the size & type of container, these are displayed on four sides only. On the left hand and right-hand sides are the UiC decals that confirm it is fit for rail transportation. On the rear, usually the right-hand door, the weight decal showing clearly the Max Gross Weight allowable for the container and the tare weight. As aforementioned the CSC plate is also affixed to one of the doors at a height that a person standing on the floor can read it while the container is on a lorry. Date sticker This adheres to the CSC plate and advises at what date the container MUST BE re-examined by. The sticker is not a certificate of cargo worthiness it’s just an indicator to quayside inspectors & handlers that the container has been examined and the due date of the next examination. The Container must not be used without this being updated and you need to ensure that the due date is higher than the containers intended journey. It Is the owner’s Full responsibility to ensure the container is maintained in a safe and serviceable condition at all times, even after a recent certification!

The doors of a shipping container are typically covered with various numbers and letters. Each marking provides important information about the transportation, cargo, ownership, and condition of the storage container. Let’s look at the meaning of each marking. (1) Container Number - A unique sequence made up of 4 letters and 7 numbers, the container number is displayed on the top right part of the container door. The classification agency ISO ( International Standards Organization) assigns the number to identify the unit internationally. The first 3 capital letters are the Owner Code, which signifies the owner of the container, who also usually brands the unit with their logo and unique paint. One letter following the owner code, the Equipment Category Identifier is either U, J or Z. U denotes a freight container, J refers to attached container related equipment such as a power unit, and Z signifies a trailer or chassis used to carry a storage container. Next, the Registration Number (or Serial Number) is a sequence of 6 digits, decided by the owner. The (2) Check Digit is the following solo number, the last digit of the container number. This is used to verify the entire identification sequence is accurate. If you search the container number with the BIC (Bureau of International Containers), the matching check digit should appear. (3) ISO Code - Usually located below the container number, the ISO Code is a sequence of 4 letters or digits that provide information about the container dimensions and type of container. The first character signifies the length of the unit and the second character represents the width and height. The third character identifies the container type and the last character indicates a container of reduced strength. Depending on the country, a container is labeled Dry Van (DV), General Purpose (GP), Standard (SD), or Dry Container (DC). (4) Operational Markings - Operational characteristics of the container are often displayed on the door. The Maximum Gross Weight signifies the most weight the loaded container can carry, which is typically around 30 metric tons. The Container Weight (Tare) also appears, which should be between 4 to 10 metric tons. The Net or Payload is the gross weight minus the tare weight, which is the maximum weight that can be packed into the container. The Maximum Cargo Volume is also displayed below. (5) CSC Plate - Typically located in the lower left of a unit’s doors, every shipping container used for international transport needs a valid CSC plate to verify good condition and acceptable safety.

The most common shipping container sizes are 20 feet or 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8.5 feet or 9.5 feet tall. The taller containers are called High Cubes. In total, shipping container sizes come in lengths of 10 ft, 20 ft, 40 ft or 53 ft. The inside measurements of shipping containers are a bit smaller. See the exact dimensions for shipping containers below: Container Sizing Details 1. Shipping Container Dimensions and Size 2. 3 Common Shipping Container Sizes Video 3. Rare Conex Box Container Sizes 4. What Materials Are Used To Make Shipping Containers? 5. How Many Square Feet Are In Shipping Containers? 6. How Many Cubic Feet Do Shipping Containers Have? 7. High Cube Containers Vs Standard Shipping Containers 8. How to Choose the Right Container Size for Your Project 9. How Much Do Shipping Containers Weigh? 10. What is the Payload Weight For Conex Shipping Containers 11. What Are The Sizes Of Conex Box Shipping Containers For Sale? 12. Portable Storage Container Dimensions and Sizes Container Dimensions Container Dimensions by Derkson Container Sales & Transport Rare Conex Box Container Sizes Rare conex box shipping container sizes include the 10 ft and 53 ft containers. The secondary market to purchase them is fairly small, making those containers very expensive when they’re available. Customers who want a 10 ft container are better served with an 8 ft or 12 ft portable storage container. And customers seeking large containers will quickly discover that 40 foot High Cubes are significantly more affordable and accessible than 53-footers. Scroll to the Top What Materials Are Used To Make Shipping Containers? Shipping containers are often referred to as Conex boxes or ISO containers. They’re all referring to the same type of steel container used for shipping goods internationally or domestically. These containers are built to last. The primary material used to build a typical ISO shipping container is Cor-ten steel, also known as “weathering steel”. Cor-ten steel is a corrosion resistant steel that is used within many industries where exposed steel is in harsh conditions. They also feature continuously welded steel framing to support an incredible amount of weight. Here are the dimensions of the materials used to make shipping containers: Walls: 14-gauge corrugated steel sheets with .075-inch thickness Framing: 7-gauge tubular steel with 0.187-inch thickness Floor Structure: 6” steel cross members Flooring: Purin reinforced 1-⅛” Marine Plywood Floors Scroll to the Top How Many Square Feet Are In Shipping Containers? Deciphering the interior square footage within standard shipping containers clarifies how much floor space you'll have for your projects or storage. As mentioned earlier, the inside dimensions of a shipping container are smaller than the exterior dimensions due to space that the conex box walls and framing take up. Here's the essential square footage info: 10-foot container: 80 square feet on the exterior and about 75 square feet on the interior. 20-foot container: 160 square feet on the exterior and about 150 square feet on the interior. 40-foot container: 320 square feet on the exterior and about 300 square feet on the interior. 40-foot High Cube:320 square feet on the exterior and about 300 square feet on the interior. Scroll to the Top How Many Cubic Feet Do Shipping Containers Have? Buying a shipping container requires understanding the cubic footage of different shipping container sizes. It helps in selecting the right unit for your storage, shipping or building needs. Here's a quick rundown of exterior and interior cubic footage of shipping containers: 10-foot container: 680 cubic feet on the exterior and about 560 cubic feet on the interior. 20-foot container: 1360 cubic feet on the exterior and around 1,172 cubic feet on the interior 40-foot container: 2720 cubic feet on the exterior and about 2,350 cubic feet on the interior. 40-foot High Cube: 3040 cubic feet on the exterior and about 2,694 cubic feet on the interior. Scroll to the Top High Cube Containers Vs Standard Shipping Containers Should I buy standard sized shipping containers or a high cube container? Shipping container dimensions are fairly simple to understand as the only thing that really changes is the length of the shipping container, or the height if you're looking into high cube containers. High Cube containers are a foot taller than standard shipping containers at 9.5 feet tall versus 8.5 feet tall. High Cube containers are our best sellers because many people prefer more head space in container build projects or they need storage space that can be stacked high. Scroll to the Top How to Choose the Right Container Size for Your Project Embarking on a project that involves a shipping container means unlocking endless possibilities, whether for storage, transport, or innovative architecture. Choosing the right size is crucial, and here's how you can navigate this decision. First, pinpoint your project's specific needs. For straightforward storage or transport, a standard 20-foot container might suffice. They're ideal for storage sheds, cabins, pop-up shops, or a shipping container garage. However, if you're dreaming bigger—like constructing a container home, a container office, or a spacious art studio—a 40-foot container provides double the space, making it suitable for such ambitious projects. Its ample room is perfect for a chic, modern dwelling or a dynamic work environment. For projects needing extra height, high-cube containers are perfect. They're a favorite for carports, commercial spaces or tiny homes, offering that much-needed headroom or loft space. Scroll to the Top How Much Do Shipping Containers Weigh? Navigating the world of shipping can be a bit like learning a new language, especially when it comes to understanding all the jargon. Let's break down some of that heavyweight lingo—specifically tare, payload, and gross mass—so you can feel like the captain of your shipping endeavors! First off, "tare weight" is just a fancy term for how much an empty container weighs. 10-foot shipping containers weigh about 2,200 pounds (1000 kg) 20-foot shipping containers weigh about 4,500 pounds (2,041 kg) 40-foot shipping containers weigh about 8,300 pounds (3,750 kg) 40-foot High Cube containers weigh about 8,800 pounds (4000 kg) Scroll to the Top What is the Payload Weight For Conex Shipping Containers The "payload" is the total weight of the cargo you can safely pack into your container. 40 foot containers can be loaded with up to 63,000 lbs of weight and stacked 10 high. That is why they are so useful for building multi-story homes, apartment buildings and college dorms. Here are the precise payload capacities for every shipping container size. 10-foot shipping containers can safely hold about 20,000 pounds (9,071 kg) 20-foot shipping containers can safely hold about 61,729 pounds (28,000 kg) 40-foot shipping containers can safely hold about 63,053 pounds (28,600 kg) 40-foot High Cube containers can safely hold about 63,053 pounds (28,600 kg) Scroll to the Top What Are The Sizes Of Conex Box Shipping Containers For Sale? At Container One, we sell 3 sizes of conex box shipping containers: 20 foot standard, 40 foot standard, and 40 foot High Cube. 'Foot' refers to the length of the container. Here are the exact dimensions: 20 Ft Shipping Container Dimensions 20 foot Standard Dry shipping containers are some of the most common shipping containers available for purchase. 20 ft shipping containers have a length of 20 feet, a height of 8'6", and a width of 8 feet. Internally, their dimensions are 19'5" long, 7'8" wide, and 7'9" high. Their gross weight is 4,500 lbs. The door opening is 7'8" wide and 7'5" tall. Their square footage is 160 sq ft on the outside and around 150 sq ft on the inside. The cubic footage of storage space in a 20 ft Standard Dry container is approximately 1,360 cubic feet on the exterior. Get an instant quote on 20 ft standard containers. 40 Ft Standard Shipping Container Dimensions 40 foot shipping containers are the most often used as freight shipping containers for big businesses trading overseas. The shipping container dimensions for a 40 ft container are 40 ft long, 8'6" high, and 8 feet wide. Internally, these dimensions are 39" long, 7'8" wide, and 7'9" high. They have a gross weight of 8,500 lbs. The door opening is 7'8" wide and 7'5" tall. Their square footage is 320 sq ft on the outside and 300 sq ft on the inside. The cubic footage of storage space in a 40 ft Standard Dry container is approximately 2,720 cubic feet on the exterior. See 40 ft shipping containers for sale. 40 Ft High Cube Shipping Container Dimensions 40 foot High Cube containers offer higher ceilings and more cubic footage of storage than standard 40 footers. The dimensions for a 40 ft High Cube container are 40 ft long, 9'6" high, and 8 feet wide. Internally, these dimensions are 39" long, 7'8" wide, and 8'9" high. They have a gross weight of 8,750 lbs. The door opening is 7'8" wide and 8'5" tall. Their square footage is 320 sq ft on the outside and around 300 sq ft on the inside. The cubic footage of storage space in a 40 ft High Cube container is approximately 3,040 cubic feet on the exterior. See 40 ft High Cube container for sale. Scroll to the Top Portable Storage Container Dimensions and Sizes Container One also sells brand new portable storage containers in sizes of 8 ft, 12 ft, 16 ft and 20 ft that are ideal for self storage, moving or keeping job-site materials safe. 'Foot' refers to the length of the container. Here are the exact dimensions for storage containers:

The shipping or freight container came into being in 1956 and changed global trade forever.. From then there has been no turning back for this CTU (Cargo Transport Unit). The container which comes in various sizes/types is made up of various structural components that all work together to form a rigid rectangular structure capable of handling various types of cargo. The main structural components are : Roof Side Walls Floor Cross Members Top/Bottom Rails, and Corner Posts All of these components transfer weight and racking forces when a box is loaded or empty be it at sea or on a trailer at the back of a truck being transported around. Repairs to a container which are part and parcel in the life of a container play an important role in the condition of a container. image 1 **************** For example, an “Improper Repair” on say 3 cross members whereby the cross members have been cut through the full profile of the cross member has actually weakened the structure of the cross member. This ultimately leads to the weakening of the plywood floor. Remember forklift trucks move in and out of the container whilst loading which can cause sagging or cracking on a floor with an improper type of repair which could inevitably lead to having to section or replace the floorboard. The correct way to have inserted the cross member would have been to stop the vertical cut to between 13 mm – 20 mm away from the top flange, then remove the damaged section of the cross member leaving the original piece intact and then welding the new section into place. Thus not removing the top portion of the cross member. This is just one of many examples, there are too many to mention. I will now touch on some of the actual components: 1) The Roof: Made of Corten Steel Sheets with corrugated profiles to give the roof strength and rigidity. Weaknesses here on older units are, pitting and bubble rust which if the box is dropped too hard can lead to tiny pinholes forming around the corroded area. Usually this can only be seen from the top exterior of the roof panel. Or when it may be turned into a depot for whatever reason. Even then it can still be missed. 2) Side Wall Panels: Made of Corten Steel Sheets with corrugated profiles for strength and rigidity. Again older units can be prone to rusting at the bottom lower half of the panel next to the top half of the bottom rail at the weld seam. This is more visible than the roof. Weaknesses on panels are impact damages and bowing. Normal IICL5 acceptable damage criteria here is not more than 50 mm bowing into the cube on any one side if bowing is on both opposite sides than the criteria is 25 mm. 3)Floor and Cross members: The floor consists of 28 mm Laminated Marine Plywood. Weaknesses here would be improper sections on the flooring not covering 3 cross members in other words a too short a piece of plywood flooring fitted. This can lead to sagging and cracking. Cross members are structural components (visible from underneath the container) that make up the floor along with forklift pockets. They too can have weaknesses as described above along with bowing below the bottom face of a corner casting. Units in this condition fall outside of the recommended IICL5 repair criteria. And should be repaired if being used for cargo transportation. Hairline finger fractures on flooring can be from Inferior material having being used or general wear and tear. Image 2 4) Top and Bottom Rails: The rails form the frame of the container. Top rails can be either box section profiles or 10mm flat bar profiles. Bottom rails should have no cracks around the corner casting at weld points where the rail meets the casting likewise top rails too. Rails and panels should not be bowing our bowed outside the “Container Envelope” by more than 40mm. Door end and front end bottom rails have “Cuts Outs” which helps to stop the rail from being pierced from the twist-lock points when being loaded onto a trailer. 5) Corner Posts Front End and Door End: All corner posts are made up of 10mm High Tensile Steel. Strict repair criteria is enforced on repairs that must conform to IICL5 repair criteria. Unsafe repairs to corner posts could result in the collapse of a stack. What to look for would be previous inserts that are less than 300 mm in length, inserts that terminate within 300 mm from the corner casting, and full profile inserts on the front end posts [fixed end]. Any splits our hair line cracks on previous post insert welds. 6) Doors ,Fittings and CSC Plate: Doors should open to 180 deg, hinge pins should be intact at each hinge and not missing. Door gaskets should not be hanging or loose, and when both doors closed if need be a “Daylight Check” can be carried out ensuring no holes and box is sealing. Each and every container must have a CSC Plate on the left hand door short for [Container Safety Convention]. This plate has all the details of the Owners, Technical Data, and ACEP information. ACEP being short for, Approved Continuous Examination Programme, in short every 30 months a container must be turned into a Container Depot for examination. image 3 Conventions Containers are governed by laws, regulations, conventions and standards on both an international and national basis. Many of the international conventions have been established under the umbrella of the United Nations and its sponsored organizations. National laws and regulations have been developed to apply the international conventions and national requirements. 1) Customs Convention on Containers, 1972, entered into force on the 6th of December 1975 and overseen by World Customs Organization (WCO) recognizes containers as Instruments of International Traffic (IIT) and establishes framework for containers to be used in international transportation. 2) The 1972 Convention for Safe Containers overseen by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has two goals. One is to maintain a high level of safety of human life in the transport and handling of containers by providing generally acceptable test procedures and related strength requirements. The other is to facilitate the international transport of containers by providing uniform international safety regulations. 3) The International Standards for freight containers overseen by the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) have allowed “the box” to become the backbone of global supply chains. To date, over 30 International Standards exist in this domain. They cover a wide variety of aspects of different types of freight containers that include air/surface/(intermodal) containers, containers on board vessels, tank containers, platform and platform-based containers. Post republished after some critical updates About the author: Robert Wheeler‘s history with Containerization goes back to to the late seventies. He has worked for various company’s within the shipping industry namely Safmarine and Maersk within the technical departments and workshops. Both on the structural dry box, reefer, and reefer machinery. he has gained extensive in house knowledge on all aspects of containers. Robert is the owner of Container Choice..