02 Aug TYPES OF CONTAINERS

The Container is a metal alloy conveying equipment produced in standard dimensions according to international standards and is used to transport materials efficiently, safely and without damage. The containers are suitable for different transport modes. This means that the Container loaded onto the ship has the appropriate dimensions that a truck can carry after disembarking. It is also applicable to container transport by train. For example, the Container can be transported by train from the factory to the port. When it arrived at the port, can loaded to the ship. The Container unloaded at the port in the destination country can be loaded on a truck to be transported to its destination for final delivery.

We see that a single container can be transported between two addresses via three different types of transport vehicles. This way, the possibility of loading and unloading the load as the vehicles change, possible damage, loss and theft is prevented. With different transport modes, transporting materials from vehicle to vehicle without unloading and transporting them by Container increases shipment speed. Multimodal transportation makes it possible to load containers on different vehicles such as trucks, ships and trains, to be transported for thousands of kilometres and to ship across continents.

What are the Purposes of Container Usage?

Container transportation, a safe and fast transportation option, enables many products, including commercial goods, food products, raw materials, natural gas, and frozen products. We see that different container types are used according to the characteristics, volume and weight of the product to be transported. Container transportation is the most frequently used method for the transportation of personal vehicles such as household goods, private cars, motorcycles abroad. Container transportation is the most effective solution for people who need to reside in another country permanently or for a long time. Indeed, there is no more economical and safer method of transporting items in your home from one continent to another.

The Container is also used in the building industry. Although it is independent of our subject, there is no content related to the transportation sector. It should be mentioned to specify the usage areas of the Container. In particular, we see that the containers are used as residences by opening doors and windows in response to needs such as construction sites, temporary offices outside the city, and shelter areas. Here, the main reason why the Container is preferred is that the containers can be transported on the back of the truck; that is, it is suitable for multimodal transport and is mobile.

Container transportation provides great flexibility in terms of logistics with varying container types for different products. Dry Container is the most widely used container type, which can be supplied in almost every port and is the most used container type in sea, road and train transportation.

Flat containers are used for overflowed products that do not fit into 20 “and 40” Dry Container. Refrigerated Container is used for food products, medical products and the like that need to be delivered in a cold chain process. For easy loading of products, for example, products to be loaded by crane, “Open Top Container” “Open Side Container” is used for loading large-sized materials. By 2021, approximately 17 million containers are in commercial circulation worldwide.

Container Structure, Weight, Transport Limits

Approximately 2.5 tons of steel is used to manufacture a 40 “container. Each corner of the Container is designed to bear a load of 96 tons. The container floor can carry 24.5 kg per cm²: heavy equipment, automobiles, mines, metal equipment and many more.

Although the containers’ carrying capacity is generally high, the weight limits could be different at each country according to their highway weight limits. Therefore, even though the container carrying capacity is high, it is recommended that you check the transport limits in the at the destination countries.

For example, you can send a container carrying 24-25 tons of cargo to a port in the USA, with the shipping company’s approval. But the maximum transport in the US. Still, in the US states highway is 19.9 tons. So your container limit is not suitable to truck delivery in The US. This limit is mostly 22-24 tons in EU countries. (Transport limits change from time to time for both transporters and countries, it is recommended to get updated information during the shipment phase)

What is FCL & LCL?

FCL, as the abbreviation of Full Container Load, is an acronym we encounter in container transportation. Buyer and seller companies tend to deliver at optimum occupancy to minimize shipping cost on unit cost. The quantity of products to be shipped is generally planned according to the carrying capacity of 20 “and 40” containers.

If the products to be shipped do not fill a container, partial transportation is made. In this case, we are talking about the abbreviation of LCL, less than a container. Although it is not enough to fill it, they can make FCL due to the deadline. While all shipping companies can carry FCL transportation for the destinations they work with, there are fewer companies that make LCL transportation. In some cases, although the firm’s load is not enough to fill a container, LCL may be preferred for various reasons such as the urgency of the shipment, the security risks arising from the opening of the container, or the small cost difference between FCL and LCL.

As a result, FCL and LCL are not a container type, but a method used in container transportation.

20 DC / 40 DC Dry Container / Standard Container

Dry container is the most used container type in the transportation field. Standard containers that provide general and multi-purpose usage advantages are manufactured in the fully closed format. Being completely closed ensures that the products it contains are protected from weather conditions and physical impacts. Dry container is designed with panels on four sides and a lid at the front. 20 “and 40” and 40 “HQ types are widely used. There are also 10” and 45 “types, although not expected. In addition to shipping, truck transport and rail system are easy to load, unload and transfer.

20” Container:  The outer length of the 20′ container is 6.058 mm. The width is 2.438 mm. The height is 2.591 mm.

40” Container:  The 40′ container has a length of 12.192 mm. Its width and height are the same as 20′ container. The width is 2.438 mm. The height is 2.591 mm.

40 High Cube / 45 High Cube

40” and 45” High Cube containers areused for the transportation of high volume goods. It have extra 30 cm height than a normal 40′ container. The internal volume of High Cube containers is more than 40 “containers due to their height, but their weight carrying capacity is the same.

20 / 40 Open Top Container

“Open Top Container” is designed with an open top. The container designed for practical uses is designed for loading long or bulky items into the container by crane. It is a suitable option for products that cannot be loaded from the container’s door part. In the design, the upper ceiling is made of steel and can be opened optionally. It can be used without closing the top cover in order to carry high sized products.

20 Flat Rack / 40 Flat Rack / 40 Closable Flat Rack Container

The container designed only in floor form is called the flat container. There is no panel on the side. There is no upper ceiling. With this container model called Flattrack, heavy and high-volume products such as construction equipment, military vehicles can be transported. More than one flat container can be used end to end or side by side.

40 Reefer / 40 High Cube Reefer / 45 High Cube Reefer Container

This type of containers, which are described as refrigerated containers and have a refrigerant system, keep the products loaded in them, like a refrigerator, at a constant temperature during the journey. It can also be defined as a frosting container. It can be used for shipping fruits and vegetables, seafood, frozen foods and medical products.

20 Tank Container

It is consists of a container, which is a carrier element, and a profile frame, in which liquid forms. It is a safe and low-cost transportation vehicle in terms of transporting gaseous forms substances.