Various types of containers are used in international shipping to transport a variety of different goods such as food, industrial products, and daily chemicals to all parts of the world. International traders or freight forwarders must choose suitable containers for each type of cargo transportation. Before that, we need to have a general understanding of these containers:
Dry cargo containers have the function of boxes for transporting goods. They are the most common containers on the market and are mainly used for ordinary goods. Of course, they can also be used for dangerous goods. Although there are various types of containers, in general, dry cargo containers are what we call "standard containers". They are often closed and generally have doors at one end or side. They account for 70~80% of the total number of containers in transportation and are widely used.
Refrigerated containers are temperature-controlled containers. In layman's terms, they are like mobile refrigerators. Most of them can adjust the temperature within the range of -30 ℃ to +30 ℃. In the equatorial region, the temperature inside ordinary containers can rise to 60-70℃, however, for refrigerated containers, the internal temperature can be kept constant. Therefore, it is usually used for food and dangerous goods that require temperature control, but attention should be paid to the technical status of the refrigeration unit and the temperature required for the goods in the box during use.
Open containers are like dry cargo containers without ceilings and are suitable for tall goods. Since it is open at the top, it is also convenient to put heavy goods into the container from the top. It is not easy to load heavy goods, and ordinary 3 to 5 ton forklifts cannot load them. But in the factory, it is not so difficult to load from the top of the container using an overhead crane or a tow truck. The open container looks like it has no ceiling, and many people worry that the goods will get wet in the rain. But in fact, the ceiling is covered after loading, so there is no need to worry.
Frame container is a dry cargo container without ceiling and side walls, which is used to load goods wider than ordinary dry cargo containers. It is not only used for oversized goods, but also for accessories that can fit into the container and are not oversized. Even for goods that are not oversized, frame containers are sometimes used when the loading facilities in the factory are insufficient.
Like the above open container, the ocean freight of frame container is generally higher because the space on the container ship is limited. When the frame container is used to transport oversized goods, it needs more space on the sides and top. However, even though it is a special container, there are relatively fewer restrictions on ocean transportation, so the ocean freight has always been lower.
This tank-shaped container is used to store liquid materials. Its handling, loading, unloading and storage all require a certain special place and are equipped with special fire safety equipment, but overall, it is an economical, convenient and fast container. Wine, juice, chemicals, etc., if placed directly in a tank container, may be cheaper than being placed in a barrel and transported in an ordinary container.
A 20-foot container is about 2.3 square meters and about 6 meters long. Container sizes vary slightly between shipping companies, but the overall difference is not very large, and it is a more common size.
A 40-foot container has the same width and height as a 20-foot container, which is 2.3 meters, but the length of a 40-foot container is twice that of a 20-foot container, which is about 12 meters.
High cube means a taller container, mainly a 40-foot high container, which has the same width and length as a 40-foot standard height container, but is taller. 20-foot high cubes are not common, but they do exist. In terms of size, a 40-foot high cube is about 2.7 meters high.
