Specifications
Typical ISO (International Standards Organization) shipping containers are manufactured with identical size
specification in terms of exterior height, exterior width, and exterior length. The standardization of containers and
the adoption of the ISO specification is to insure that all equipment handlers, chassis, rail cars, and slot spaces on
vessels will accommodate ALL containers. This makes our job much easier, because we can confidently give you
exact exterior specifications. Interior specifications can be slightly different, less than 1″ variation. These ISO
containers are now available in all major metropolitan areas throughout the nation. Shipping containers as storage
units have changed the storage industry, most people prefer the convenience of mobile storage vs. standard mini
storage. Container Solutions has formed a network of small businesses that are familiar with your needs. This guide
is designed to help you become informed about container uses, common questions and problems.
Typical Dimensions
Exterior Interior Door Opening
Length Width Height Length Width Height Width Height
10′ Standard Dry Container 10′ 8′ 8’6″ 9’3″ 7’8″ 7′ 9 7/8″ 7’8″ 7’5″
20′ Standard Dry Container 20′ 8′ 8’6″ 19’3″ 7’8″ 7′ 9 7/8″ 7’8″ 7’5″
40′ Standard Dry Container 40′ 8′ 8’6″ 39′ 5″ 7’8″ 7′ 9 7/8″ 7’8″ 7’5″
40′ High Cube Dry Container 40′ 8′ 9’6″ 39′ 5″ 7’8″ 8′ 10″ 7’8″ 8′ 5 1/2″
45′ High Cube Dry Container 45′ 8′ 9’6″ 44′ 5″ 7’8″ 8′ 10″ 7’8″ 8′ 5 1/2″
20′ Refrigerated Container 19′ 10.5″ 8′ 8’6″ 17′ 11″ 7’6″ 7’6″* 7”5″ 7’3″
40′ Refrigerated Container 40′ 8′ 8’6″ 37′ 11″ 7’6″ 7’6″* 7”6″ 7’6″
40′ High Cube Refrigerated Container 40′ 8′ 9’6″ 37′ 11″ 7’6″ 8’4″* 7”6″ 8’4″
Typical Weights / Capacity
Cubic Capacity Tare Weight Max Gross Max Payload
20′ Standard Dry Container 1,165 cu. ft. 5,050 67,200 62,150
40′ Standard Dry Container 2,350 cu. ft. 8,000 67,200 59,200
40′ High Cube Dry Container 2694 cu. ft. 8,775 67,200 58,425
45′ High Cube Dry Container 3043 cu. ft. 9,810 72,800 62,990
20′ Refrigerated Container 1,010 cu. ft. (967)** 6,503 52,800 46,407
40′ Refrigerated Container 2,051 cu. ft. (1959)** 9,700 67,200 57,450
40′ High Cube Refrigerated 2,380 cu. ft. (2,289)** 9,590 70,550 60,960
1. Dry storage container
The most commonly used shipping containers; they come in various dimensions
standardized by ISO. They are used for shipping of dry materials and come in size of
20ft, 40 ft and 10ft.
2. Flat rack container
With collapsible sides, these are like simple storage shipping containers where the
sides can be folded so as to make a flat rack for shipping of wide variety of goods.
3. Open top container
With a convertible top that can be completely removed to make an open top so that
materials of any height can be shipped easily.
4. Tunnel container
Container storage units provided with doors on both ends of the container, they are
extremely helpful in quick loading and unloading of materials.
5. Open side storage container
These storage units are provided with doors that can change into completely open sides
providing a much wider room for loading of materials.
6. Double doors container
They are kind of storage units that are provided with double doors, making a wider room
for loading and unloading of materials. Construction materials include steel, iron etc in
standardized sizes of 20ft and 40ft.
7. Refrigerated ISO containers
These are temperature regulated shipping containers that always have a carefully
controlled low temperature. They are exclusively used for shipment of perishable
substances like fruits and vegetables over long distances.
8. Insulated or thermal containers
These are the shipping storage containers that come with a regulated temperature
control allowing them to maintain a higher temperature.
The choice of material is so done to allow them long life without being damaged by
constant exposure to high temperature. They are most suitable for long distance
transportation of products.
9. Tanks
Container storage units used mostly for transportation of liquid materials, they are used
by a huge proportion of entire shipping industry. They are mostly made of strong steel
or other anti corrosive materials providing them with long life and protection to the
materials.
10. Cargo storage roll container
A foldable container, this is one of the specialized container units made for purpose of
transporting sets or stacks of materials. They are made of thick and strong wire mesh
along with rollers that allows their easy movement. Availability in a range of colored wire
meshes make these shipping container units a little more cheerful.
11. Half height containers
Another kind of shipping containers includes half height containers. Made mostly of
steel, these containers are half the height of full sized containers. Used especially for
good like coal, stones etc which need easy loading and unloading.
12. Car carriers
Car carriers are container storage units made especially for shipment of cars over long
distances. They come with collapsible sides that help a car fit snugly inside the
containers without the risk of being damaged or moving from the spot.
13. Intermediate bulk shift containers
These are specialized storage shipping containers made solely for the purpose of
intermediate shipping of goods. They are designed to handle large amounts of materials
and made for purpose of shipping materials to a destination where they can be further
packed and sent off to final spot.
14. Drums
As the name suggests, circular shipping containers, made from a choice of materials
like steel, light weight metals, fiber, hard plastic etc. they are most suitable for bulk
transport of liquid materials. They are smaller in size but due to their shape, may need
extra space.
15. Special purpose containers
Not the ordinary containers, these are the container units, custom made for specialized
purposes. Mostly, they are used for high profile services like shipment of weapons and
arson. As such, their construction and material composition depends on the special
purpose they need to cater to. But in most cases, security remains the top priority.
16. Swap bodies
They are a special kind of containers used mostly in Europe. Not made according to the
ISO standards, they are not standardized shipping container units but extremely useful
all the same. They are provided with a strong bottom and a convertible top making them
suitable for shipping of many types of products.
FEEDER VESSEL
Feeder vessel is normally small in size compared to a full container vessel. Feeder vessels serve between
smaller ports and major ports. In other words, feeder vessels feed cargo to full container vessel from
smaller ports to large ports for exports and from major main ports to smaller ports for imports. Compared
to full container vessel, feeder vessel is slow.
Average capacity of a feeder vessel is 300 to 500 TEUs (20’ containers). Feeder vessel serves short
distance, either between smaller ports, or between smaller ports and major ports.
MOTHER VESSEL
Full container vessel is big in size compared to feeder vessel. Full container vessels only serve between
major big ports. Full container vessels have the capacity to carry thousands of containers. It only calls to
main ports and covers a large distance compared to the feeder vessel.
What is the capacity of mother vessel?
Average capacity of a Full container Vessel is 10000 TEUs (Twenty foot Equipment Units). In 1960s,
vessel capacity was a maximum of 500 - 800 TEUs. Mother vessel with a capacity of 15000 TEUs are
available now. We can expect mother vessels with a capacity of 20000 TEUs by the year 2015.
Container Ship Size Categories
Capacit
Name y Length Beam Draft Example
(TEU)[19]
Ultra Large 14,501 1,200 ft 160.7 ft 49.9 ft With a length of 400 m,
Container and (366 m) (49 m) (15.2 m) a width of 59 m, draft of
Vessel higher and longer and and 14.5 m, and a capacity
(ULCV) wider deeper of 18,270 TEU, ships of
the Maersk Triple E
class are able to transit
the Suez canal.
(Photo: MV Mærsk Mc-
Kinney Møller.)
New 10,000– 1,200 ft 160.7 ft 49.9 ft With a beam of 43 m,
Panamax 14,500 (366 m) (49 m) (15.2 m) ships of the COSCO
Post- 5,101– Guangzhou class are
Panamax 10,000 much too big to fit
through the Panama
Canal's old locks, but
could easily fit through
the new expansion.
(Photo: The 9,500
TEU MV COSCO
Guangzhou pierside in
Hamburg.)
Panamax 3,001 – 965 ft 106 ft 39.5 ft Ships of the Bay class
5,100 (294.13 m (32.31 m (12.04 m are at the upper limit of
) ) ) the Panamax class, with
an overall length of
292.15 m, beam of
32.2m, and maximum
depth of 13.3 m. (Photo:
The 4,224 TEU
MV Providence
Bay passing through the
Panama Canal.)
Feederma 2,001 – Container ships under
x 3,000 3,000 TEU are typically
Feeder 1,001 – called feeders. In some
2,000 areas of the world, they
might be outfitted with
Small Up to cargo cranes. (Photo:
feeder 1,000 The 384
TEU MV TransAtlantic a
t anchor.
