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Container Dimensions
and Capacity
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'.
The container capacity is
the total cube a container can accommodate.
The term cube 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.
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