Types Of shipping Containers

Types Of shipping Containers High Cube Containers, Open Top Containers, Flatracks and Platforms

Types Of shipping Containers - Container units form the most integral part of the entire shipping industry and transport. These shipping containers are the structures that store various kinds of products that need to be shipped from one part of the world to another. Moving containers protect contents on the long journeys they make and ensure they make it back to you in one piece.

Some of the most common types of shipping containers in use today are mentioned below.

Types Of Container High Cube Containers

High-cube containers are similar in structure to standard containers, but taller. In contrast to standard containers, which have a maximum height of 2591 mm (8'6"), high-cube containers are 2896 mm, or 9'6", tall. High-cube containers are for the most part 40' long, but are sometimes made as 45' containers. 

A number of lashing rings, capable of bearing loads of at most 1000 kg, are mounted on the front top end rail and bottom cross member and the corner posts. Many 40' containers have a recess in the floor at the front end which serves to centre the containers on so-called gooseneck chassis. These recesses allow the containers to lie lower and therefore to be of taller construction.

Types Of Container Open Top Container

Open Top containers, are basically a dry container, with the roof removed. In place of the steel roof, is a tarp, which can be removed for loading or unloading the container from above (ie: a crane), or can be left open to accommodate cargo that is overheight. The walls of open-top containers are generally made of corrugated steel. The floor is made of wood. 

It has the following typical distinguishing structural features:

• The roof consists of removable bows and a removable tarpaulin.
• The door header may be swivelled out.

These two structural features greatly simplify the process of packing and unpacking the container. In particular, it is very easy to pack and unpack the container from above or through the doors by crane or crab when the roof is open and the door header is swivelled out.  The purpose of the roof bows of an open-top container is not solely to support the tarpaulin but also to contribute to container stability. Flatracks are therefore more suitable for overheight cargoes. Lashing rings, to which the cargo may be secured, are installed in the upper and lower side rails and the corner posts. The lashing rings may take loads of up to 1,000 kg. Usual open-top container dimensions are 20' and 40'. Open-top containers are used for all types of general cargo (dry cargo). Their principal uses is forpacking and unpacking from above or through the doors by crane or crab and for tall cargo.

Types Of Container Flatracks

Flatracks consist of a floor structure with a high loading capacity composed of a steel frame and a softwood floor and two end walls, which may either be fixed or collapsible. The end walls are stable enough to allow cargo securing means to be attached and several flatracks to be stacked on top of one another. Flatracks are available in 20' and 40' sizes. A number of lashing rings, to which the cargo may be secured, are installed in the side rails, the corner posts and the floor. The lashing rings may take loads of up to 2000 kg in the case of 20' flatracks or up to 4000 kg in the case of 40' flatracks. Some types of 20' flatracks have forklift pockets. 40' flatracks have gooseneck tunnels at each end. In addition, they are sometimes equipped with lashing winches with 2 metric ton lashing belts. For transport of certain cargoes, flatracks may be provided with stanchions. The maximum payload may be used only if the load is distributed evenly over the floor structure. If the weight of the cargo is applied to only a small proportion of the floor, it must be distributed and the manufacturer of the flatracks may have to be consulted on safety issues. Flatracks are mainly used to transport heavy-lifts and overheight or overwidth cargoes.

Types Of Container Platforms

Platforms consist solely of a floor structure with extremely high loading capacity; they have no side or end walls. This high loading capacity makes it possible to concentrate heavy weights on small areas. A platform consists of a steel frame and a wooden floor structure. Platforms are used principally for oversized and very heavy cargo.

Read Also: Registration Of Indian Ship

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