Regarding the definition of a container, experts and scholars at home and abroad have had certain differences over the years. The following is the introduction of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) definition of a container. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines a container as "a container is a transportation device that should meet the following requirements: it has durability and is strong enough to repeat Use; specially designed to facilitate the transportation of goods, no need to change during transportation in one or more modes of transportation; equipped with devices for easy loading, unloading and handling, especially easy to transfer from one mode of transportation to another ; When designing, it should be noted that it is convenient to fill or unload the goods; the internal volume is 1 square meter or more.


At present, China, Japan, the United States, France and other relevant countries in the world have all fully introduced the definition of the International Organization for Standardization. In addition to the ISO definition, there are also the "Container Customs Convention" (CCC), "International Container Safety Convention" (CSC), British National Standards and the North American Pacific Liner Association for the definition of containers. The contents are basically the same. my country's national standard GB1992-85 "Terminology of Container Names" quoted the above definitions.
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Container standard

In order to effectively carry out international container multimodal transport, container standardization must be strengthened, and container standardization work should be further done. According to the scope of use, container standards are divided into four categories: international standards, national standards, regional standards and company standards.

1. International standard container: refers to the international standard container constructed and used in accordance with the international standards formulated by the 104th Technical Committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Container standardization has gone through a development process. Since its establishment in 1961, the ISO/TC104 Technical Committee of the International Organization for Standardization has made many additions, additions, deletions and modifications to the international container standards. The current international standards are the first series of 13 types, all of which have the same width (2438mm) and length There are four types (12192mm, 9125mm, 6058mm, 2991mm), and four heights (2896mm, 2591mm, 2438mm, 2438mm). See the table for details. Both the 2nd and 3rd series are downgraded to technical reports.

2. National Standard Container

Governments of various countries refer to international standards and consider their own specific conditions to formulate their own container standards. The external dimensions, limit deviations and rated weight of various types of containers in the current national standard "Container External Dimensions and Rated Weight" (GB1413-85).

3. Regional standard container

Such container standards are formulated by regional organizations based on the special circumstances of the region, and such containers are only applicable to the region. Such as containers built according to the container standards established by the European International Railway Union (VIC).

4. Company standard container

Some large container shipping companies formulate container shipping company standards based on the company¡¯s specific conditions and conditions, and such containers are mainly used within the company¡¯s transportation scope. Such as the 35ft container of American Land and Sea Company.

In addition, there are still many non-standard containers in the world. For example, non-standard-length containers include 35ft containers from American Land and Sea Company, 45ft and 48ft containers from President Steamship Company; non-standard height containers mainly include 9ft and 9.5ft height containers; non-standard width containers include 8.2ft width containers, etc. Driven by economic efficiency, there are more and more 20ft containers in the world with a total weight of 24ft, and they are generally welcomed.