Containers are a vital part of the maritime transport of goods. Due to their hermetic and robust structure, they are the most effective solution for protecting goods from severe weather, but also from possible damage or theft, ensuring that they arrive at their destination in optimum condition.

There is a container model for each type of cargo. The Container Security Convention (CSC) determines the tests to which they must be submitted for approval, according to ISO standards.

The most used maritime containers are:

–Standard 20′ container. This is the most common for loading general cargo. Without refrigeration or ventilation and with a two-panel front door. It is 20 feet long, the equivalent of 6 metres, 2.40 metres wide and 2.60 metres high.

-Standard 40′ container. Longer than the 20’, it is ideal for larger volumes of cargo. Its 40 feet long is equivalent to 12 metres and has a load capacity of 67.60 m3.

Other versions of these models are the 20′ double door or tunnel container with doors on both sides or the 40′ High Cube Open Size to allow independent access from each side.

–High Cube Containers (HC) have an extra height. Both the 20’ High Cube container and the 40’ High Cube container reach 9′ 6”, which is equivalent to 2.89 metres. This is 13% more capacity, making them suitable for higher volume loads.

-Open Side Container. It has the particularity of having doors on the right side, in addition to the doors on the end wall. It is useful in the case of long loads or when it is necessary to move goods from the back of the container.

-Open Top container. This container is open at the top and covered with a tarpaulin. This facilitates loading goods that are difficult to fit through the door. Not to be confused with the Hard Top Container, whose top opening is hermetically sealed by a metal cover.

–Flat Rack Container. Without side walls and roof. It is normally used for goods with special or heavy measurements, which are lashed by straps or chains

–Reefer containers. These are containers equipped with a refrigeration machine for goods that require a constant temperature.

There are also containers of special dimensions. The 10′ containers, 8′ containers and 6′ containers are generally used for storage as small warehouses. These can be transported inside a larger sea container. 

Other types, such as Pallet Wide containers are slightly wider for transporting goods on Euro pallets.

At Bullbox we have a wide range of standard containers as well as customised containerisation solutions. If you need a sea container, please contact a reputable professional.