Shipping containers have become indispensable in modern-day national and international movement of goods. In whatever size, dimension and form, shipping containers are mainly for storage and transport of goods, materials or objects. Thus, they are sealed and used to move commodities vial rails, roads and sea. Due to the high content of salt and moisture in oceans, containers are durable and reusable. Steal walls, corrugated materials and often wooden or metallic floors give the reinforcement desired.
Why are we taking time to write about containers? Are containers not mere boxes used to move goods between locations you might reason? Well, have ever received bill of lading with DV, GP, HC, HQ, OT, RF, PL COFL and TK abbreviations? You wonder what these terms mean, and sometimes it can be confusing. Hence, we are doing this article to explain different shipping containers.
SHIPPING CONTAINERS; SIZES, DIMENSIONS AND USES
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GENERAL PURPOSE OR DRY VAN CONTAINERS (GP or DV):
GP/DV containers are in 20 feet and 40 feet sizes (often written as DV20’, DV40’ or GP20’/GP40’). They are modular containers for reasons of multipurpose usage, elasticity, easy stacking, and can be in the warehouse or outside.
DV 40’ Dimensions:
Exterior (L x W x H): 12.19m x 2.44m x 2.59m
Interior: (L x W x H): 12.03m x 2.35m x 2.39m
Doorway: (W x H) 2.34m x 2.29m
Max. Gross Weight: 30,480kg
Max. Payload: 26,700kg
Tare weight (weight of empty container): 3,780kg
Volumetric capacity: 67.7CBM
DV 20’ Dimensions:
Exterior: (L x W x H) 6.06m x 2.44m x 2.59m
Interior: (L x W x H) 5.87m x 2.35m x 2.39m
Doorway: (W x H) 2.22m x 2.28m
Max. Gross Weight: 30,480kg
Max. Payload: 28,230kg
Tare weight: 2,250kg
Volumetric capacity: 33.1CBM
OPEN TOP (OT) CONTAINERS:
Instead of a door as in GP, open top has a removal roof. It is useful for goods with dimensional difficulty for the dry van. Like the GP, the open top containers have 40 feet and 20 feet sizes. Therefore, importers of machineries and objects of extended heights use open top.
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HIGH CUBIC (HC OR HQ) CONTAINERS:
High cubic containers are a cubic higher than 40’ GP, and thus is able to accommodate 10CBM more. Consequently, importers who need to take more height or volume than the conventional GP should look to HC.
FLATRACK (FR) AND COLLAPSIBLE FLATRACKS (COFR):
Flatrack containers are usable for out-of-gauge, awkward and overweight goods. Goods as heavy machineries, construction equipment, heavy-duty coils, etc. use FR. These containers are in 20’ and 40’ sizes.
REFRIGERTED CONTAINERS OR REFER CONTAINERS (RF):
Refrigerated containers are specialized containers for movement of goods at certain temperature ranges. Refer with inbuilt refrigerators carry a wide range of goods like fishes, medicals, chemicals, etc. Like regular standard containers, refers are in 40’ and 20’ sizes.
TANKTAINER (TK)
Tanktainers are shipping containers in the shape of a cylinder, and for the transport of specialized goods. These 20 feet containers often carry hazardous goods, chemicals, and even food products.
OTHER CONTAINERS:
There are other containers such as super rack used to carry high heights. Bulktainers, twoty, etc. are other forms of shipping containers in use.