There are many types of ocean containers used for the transportation of international ocean freight. Each can come in a variety of designs that allow them to carry specific types of goods. These containers make it possible for shippers to send nearly any type of product they want across the world.
The World Shipping Council (WSC) acknowledges that there are numerous types of ocean containers which include:
These containers can carry anything from pallets to oversize goods.
We’ll discuss the different types of ocean containers and the specific kinds of cargo that can be transported within them.
Ocean shipping is used for long-distance transportation to destinations on the other side of the world. The different types of ocean containers are an important part of this service because they protect and accommodate the freight of importers and exporters. One hazard they protect from is the harsh conditions that freight can travel through while out at sea.
Cargo ships travel through harsh conditions while out at sea such as:
Cargo containers can protect goods from these conditions. Loading and unloading freight is a much easier process thanks to cargo containers. If freight was packed loosely, the loading/unloading process would take too long. Lastly, ocean containers make the long-distance transportation of products much more efficient. Containers do this by allowing shippers to send large quantities of freight at once.
There are almost as many types of container ships as there are ocean containers. Discover what these ships are and what freight they haul to determine which one is best for you.
There are many kinds of ocean containers out there, but there are primarily eight that are used frequently in international shipping. Shippers determine which type of container they need to use based on the characteristics of their freight.
Some of the characteristics that shippers consider include:
While there are numerous kinds of shipping containers that can accommodate different kinds of freight, most shipping containers share the same dimensional ranges.
| Length | Width | Height |
| 20’ | 8’ | 8’6 |
| 40’ | 8’ | 8’6 |
| 40’ | 8’ | 9’6 |
If a shipping container has a height of 9.6’, it’s considered a high cube variant. Shipping containers that provide a fully enclosed space can have this design feature. We’ve provided information about each type of container and the special-purpose freight they’re designed to hold while in transit.
The first kind of ocean container we’ll discuss is the standard shipping container. Freight can be loaded into them as either non-palletized or palletized freight. Standard shipping containers are completely enclosed and provide perfect dry storage for freight.
Another feature of this container is its ability to carry various kinds of freight such as:
Even machinery that doesn’t exceed the dimension or weight capacity can fit in a standard shipping container. Some importers and exporters even prefer to ship their freight within these large boxes rather than using roll-on/roll-off shipping.
The ability to hold various kinds of freight during an ocean voyage has made standard containers a mainstay in the shipping industry.
Hardtop containers are similar in design to standard shipping containers. What sets that hardtop containers apart is that it comes with a removable steel roof along with at least one pair of doors on the end of them. Hardtop containers are typically used to transport heavy freight or extremely tall cargo.
The removable steel roof is useful when transporting these types of cargo for the following reasons:
Some of the cargo that can be transported using a hardtop container include:
Given these examples, hardtop containers are best suited for the smaller varieties of oversize freight.
Open-top containers are essentially the same as hardtop containers as far as how they look and what type of freight is transported in them. One distinct difference is that open-top containers use a tarpaulin rather than a removable steel roof. Although tarpaulins are easier to remove than a steel roofs, they don’t provide the same level of protection.
Therefore, the freight contained in an open-top container is less protected. Tarapualins also wear down after prolonged use.
Reefer containers are used when temperature-sensitive cargo needs to travel to another country overseas. Also known as refrigerated ISO containers, reefers provide regulated temperature control for perishable goods.
Some of the goods that reefers carry in them include:
Reefer containers have efficient ventilation systems within them. This helps maintain a cool temperature within the container for the duration of its journey. One overlooked feature of reefer containers is their ability to also maintain a low level of humidity. Reefers have dehumidification functions that let them create an environment with anywhere between 50 to 85 percent humidity.
The reason this is useful is that some perishable products benefit from humid conditions. Reefers also contain drains that dispose of excess water that accumulates within them.
Insulated containers are another piece of equipment that importers and exporters use to ship temperature-sensitive products. Insulated containers are sometimes referred to as non-operational refrigerated containers. This is because insulated containers don’t have a generator that provides electricity to a cooling unit.
An insulated container maintains temperatures through the use of a double wall that prevents the transfer of hot and cold. Insulated containers are also fully sealed which prevents condensation or moisture from occurring within their exterior.
These containers are capable of carrying a variety of different goods such as:
Reefer containers and insulated containers are both used to transport perishable goods. However, reefer containers are used to transport perishables that must be kept at a specific temperature while insulated containers carry goods that are kept at ambient temperatures.
This makes insulated containers a great option when international shippers need to transport goods that won’t survive in standard containers, but don’t require a reefer.
When importers and exporters need to ship freight that’s too large for a hardtop container, their next option is a flat rack container. Flat rack containers barely resemble other shipping containers.
That’s because they have the following characteristics:
Since a flat rack container doesn’t have a roof, there is no height maximum for freight that they’re used to transport. Due to the lack of side walls and roofs, flat rack containers are able to transport an assortment of oversize freight.
Some types of oversize freight include:
Another beneficial feature of flat racks is that loading and unloading oversize freight is extremely easy. Since the side walls and roof are missing, cranes and forklifts can easily place and remove the freight from them.
When international shippers have freight that flat racks can’t handle, their next option is to use platform containers. As their name implies, platform containers only have a floor and lack walls or a roof.
Similar to flat racks, their design makes accommodating the largest varieties of oversize freight easier. Loading and unloading are more efficient because the equipment needed to lift the cargo has more access points.
Tanker containers are the equipment of choice when importers and exporters need bulk transportation of liquid materials. While tanker containers have a cylindrical shape to them, their dimensions are fairly similar to standard shipping containers.
| Length | Wide | High |
| 20’ | 8’ | 8.6’ |
Tanker containers can carry a considerable amount of products such as:
Certain liquids require heated or refrigerated conditions to maintain their quality while in transit. Fortunately, tanker containers are designed to provide specific temperature conditions for the materials they’re used to transport.
Read our article on container shipping volumes to discover some useful insights about global trade.
The color of a shipping container helps port workers differentiate containers from one another. If all cargo containers were the same color, differentiating them from one another would be extremely difficult.
Based on the color of the container, port workers can determine:
There are 10 different colors that cargo containers can be shaded:
Each of these colors communicates the following information:
One benefit of painting a shipping container is that it slows down the rusting process immensely. This helps leasing companies and shipping lines get more use out of their containers.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began to seep across the world in 2020, access to shipping containers became difficult. Despite this persistent problem, the supply chain is beginning to suffer a surplus of shipping containers rather than a shortage.
The reason for this is that global consumer demand is beginning to fall exponentially. Since demand is low, shipping containers used to transport freight are being left empty. A surplus of shipping containers is bad for the ports and container depots that store them.
However, a surplus of containers is good for shippers. When global demand begins to rise again, shippers will have access to the containers they need to ship their goods.
USA Freight Forwarding Services can find a container that fits the needs of your freight shipments. We can also find the right carrier to transport your ocean freight from one country to the next. That said, ocean freight shipping isn’t the only service that we provide to our customers.
We can also provide you with the following
International air will help you send smaller quantities of freight to another country in a short period. Consulting sessions are a great service to use if you have questions about the international shipping process. During a session, you’ll have the opportunity to ask your questions to one of our experienced freight forwarders.
If you’re ready to move your freight across the world, then get started below or call our team at (866) 941-8081.
