Shipping container dimensions are something that anybody in the sea freight or logistics field should have handy. That is why I wrote this article, to give you all an easy way to look everything up at once. First I will go into some background, then I provide the dimensions.
Evolution of Shipping Containers
The modern, standardized, reusable shipping containers which we see today evolved in the 1950s, when shipping companies collaborated with the US military to develop an international standard for containers. The purpose of this standardization was to simplify the way goods were transported throughout the world, thereby creating a more efficient, secure and cost-effective shipping system. The term ‘intermodal’ is often used to indicate that these containers can be used in different modes of transport such as sea, rail or road, without having to make any modification to the container or move its contents.
One of the most significant developments in the evolution of intermodal shipping containers was the invention of the twist-lock in 1950 by Keith W Tantlinger. This seemingly insignificant invention actually revolutionized the way containers were handled and stored and is an integral part of the intermodal container even today. The twist-lock enables containers to be stacked on a ship or locked onto the base of a truck in a simple but extremely secure way.
Different Categories of Containers
The intermodal container is made of corrugated steel with a door at one end of the container. The doors have pilfer-proof latches which can be locked securely, but due to the high crime rate in the world today, these are sometimes fitted with intruder alarms. Some are even fitted with wireless radios for alerting security guards.
Due to different requirements, based on the varying nature of their cargoes, containers are modified accordingly. For example, perishable goods are transported in refrigerated containers, which are fitted with a self-contained refrigeration system, which keeps the goods at sub-zero temperatures at all times. A container can also be in the form of a tank, for the purpose of carrying liquids. Containers can be specially coated or lined internally if they are to be used for carrying cargoes like coal, chemicals or garbage. Here is a list of some of the most common container categories:
- Collapsible ISO
- Tank Containers (transportation of bulk liquids, including hazardous chemicals)
- Insulated Containers (for fragile or volatile substances and pharmaceutical products)
- Gas Containers
- Garmentainers (used for transporting garments on hangers)
- Ventilated Containers
- Open side
- Open Top (for heavy machinery and bulk minerals)
- Flushfolding flat-rack containers
Standard Dimensions for Shipping Containers
The sizes and weights of these different containers are more or less the same for each class of container. However, the weight of each individual container may differ between from one manufacturer to the next. The most commonly-used containers have two basic sizes, 20 feet and 40 feet which is the length of each individual container. In the early days, both these sizes had a width and height of 8 feet each. Today, the same containers are 8 feet, six inches high.
Variations
There are taller containers, commonly known as “hi-cube” units and have a height of 9 feet, 6 inches. The United States and Canada also use longer containers from time to time. These again come in two sizes of 48 feet and 53 feet respectively.
Another variety is the “pallet wide” container. These containers are wider than standard containers by about 2 inches to accommodate the pallets commonly used in Europe known as Euro-pallets. The reason for this extra dimension is so that the pallets can be arranged side-by-side in the standard space which is provided by several shipping companies on their vessels. A similar variation is the Australian RACE container, which is adapted for placing on Australia Standard pallets. The commonest of this class of containers in the 45-foot wide container called ‘high-cube shortsea’. A standardization process has been initiated by the EU for pallet widths.
A worthwhile mention is the “tricon” and “quadcon” containers. These were exclusively developed by the United States Army. While the tricon is a set of three containers which fit into the footprint of a standard 20’ ISO container, the quadcon consists of a set of four such containers.
Container Capacity
The standard unit of container capacity is usually expressed in terms of “twenty-foot equivalents” (TEU), It is the measurement of the approximate cubic capacity of a single 20-foot by 8-foot container. The cargo contained in a 40-foot container would be thus considered as two TEU, although it could also be described as one “forty-foot equivalent unit” (FEU).
Shipping Container Dimensions
Below you will find images of the 20′, 40′, 40′ High-Cube, 45′ High-Cube, Tricon, and Quadcon variations.
(Info Source: Wikipedia)
(Info Source: Maloy Storage)
Conclusion
Today, whether at office or at home, almost every single object you lay your eyes upon has been in a container or at least part of it, at some time or the other. Standardization of container types has led to robust and cost-effective containers, which are capable of safely transporting every imaginable cargo to its destination, intact and secure. However, having said that, it is extremely important to be aware of the kind of container required for a particular cargo. One should also be familiar with the available dimensions. This will enable you to optimize the container capacity so that the maximum volume of goods can be transported in a single shipment, which will definitely prove to be cost-effective in the long run.
