One of the most convenient and safe ways to transport goods around the world is container shipping. However, when planning cargo transportation, you need to take into account many things, including choosing the right container depending on the type of cargo, its dimensions and storage conditions. A container that is suitable in all respects will make it possible to reduce costs and optimize logistics. This article will help you understand the main types and sizes of containers for cargo transportation.
Main types of containers and their purpose
Several types of containers for cargo transportation are intended for different purposes and types of goods, each of them corresponds to a certain category. Among the most popular:
- Standard containers (Dry Van) – universal, used for most cargo, including dry cargo, can be both open and closed (with doors). They usually transport various goods, including textiles, cars, electronic components.
- Refrigerated or refrigerated (REEFER) – have a cooling system, designed to transport goods that require maintaining a certain temperature (food, medicine, flowers and other categories of goods).
- Tarpaulin (Open Top, Flat Rack) – equipped with an opening top for easy loading or unloading. Used to transport large-sized or non-standard cargo.
- For bulk materials (Bulk Container) – do not have partitions, designed to transport bulk materials (for example, grain, coal or chemicals).
- Equipped with double doors (Double Door Container) – doors on both sides facilitate the loading and unloading process, especially if the container is in a hard-to-reach place.
- For dangerous goods (Tank Container) – have special protection and resistance to external influences, specially designed for the transportation of dangerous liquid goods (for example, fuel or chemicals).
There are also types of containers that are specially designed for convenient placement of pallets, which speeds up the process of loading and unloading them – palletized containers (Pallet Wide Container).
Container sizes and their load capacity
Types of containers for transporting goods differ not only in their intended purpose for certain categories of goods, but also in their sizes and load capacity. Standard container sizes ensure compatibility with various vehicles, such as trucks, railway platforms and sea vessels. The most popular of all and used on cars of all sizes is the standard 20-foot container (Dry Van, Open Top, Tank) with internal dimensions (LxWxH) in meters – 5.9×2.3×2.6, respectively. The internal volume of such a container is 33.2 m³. Typically, its load capacity is about 22-23 tons.
The most economical container size option for transporting goods is considered to be a 40-foot container. With twice the parameters, it is only 15-25% more expensive to deliver than a 20-foot container. Its internal dimensions (LxWxH) in meters are 12×2.3×2.3, respectively. The useful volume of such a container is 67.6 m³, and the load capacity is about 26-28 tons. Less commonly used are 45-foot and specialized containers (45′ DV) with internal dimensions (LxWxH) of 13.556×2.3x 2.3 in meters. The load capacity of this type of container is usually about 26-28 tons. The volume of a container with such a load capacity is 85.0 m³.
How to choose a container for cargo transportation
The choice of container size and type primarily depends on the parameters of the cargo and the conditions of its transportation and storage. Thus, the size must correspond to the volume of cargo that is planned to be transported, and the type must correspond to the characteristics of the goods. When analyzing the types of containers and their sizes, keep in mind that the container can be made of different materials. These can be aluminum, wood, steel products, and the latter are highly durable and long-lasting. When choosing, make sure that the container is not damaged or defective.
It is important to keep in mind that goods may require certain storage and transportation conditions, for example, maintaining temperature indicators or strict adherence to delivery times. Make sure that the container meets these requirements.
When choosing a container, you need to consider the type of goods and the nature of the cargo so that the cargo reaches its destination intact and undamaged. For example, the following types of containers are suitable:
- open or special containers – for goods of non-standard shapes and sizes, such as cars or building materials;
- standard – for goods such as electronics or textiles;
- special hermetic – for cargo that is subject to corrosion;
- refrigerated – for transporting medicines and food products.
Special containers with double-layer walls may be required for transporting hazardous and valuable cargo. Such containers are usually used to store and transport substances recognized as hazardous – flammable, chemical, etc.
