Container Specifications – Bharat Shipping

Standard containers are also known as general purpose containers. They are closed containers, i.e. they are closed on all sides. These can fit most of your common needs. Standard containers are designed and constructed for transportation of general cargo on sea, rail and land. They are able to withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -40°c (-40°F) to 70°c (158°F) without affecting their strength and water-tightness. Standard containers are used for all types general cargo (dry cargo). High-cube containers are used for all types general cargo (dry cargo). However, they are particularly suitable for transporting light, voluminous cargoes and overheight cargoes up to a maximum of 2.70 m tall.

Standard containers are mainly used as 20′ and 40′ containers. containers with smaller dimensions are very seldom used.

Indeed, the trend is towards even longer dimensions, e.g.

Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
External	6096 mm	2362 mm	2590 mm
Internal	5944 mm	2337 mm	2388 mm
Door Openings		2337 mm	2286 mm
Weights*			Capacity*
Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload	Capacity*
24000 kg	2080 kg	21920 kg	33.9 cub.m

Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
External	12192 mm	2438 mm	2591 mm
Internal	12014 mm	2286 mm	2388 mm
Door Openings		2337 mm	2286 mm
Weights*			Capacity*
Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload	Capacity*
30480 kg	3900 kg	26580 kg	67.7 cub.m

Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
External	12192 mm	2438 mm	2896 mm
Internal	11963 mm	2362 mm	2692 mm
Door Openings		2286 mm	2591 mm
Weights*			Capacity*
Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload	Capacity*
30480 kg	4150 kg	26330 kg	76.4 cub.m

PALLET WIDE CONTAINERS

Europe has its own domestic pallet wide containers that are slightly different dimensionally than the standard ISO boxes. Typically they are wider (usually 2.5 meters) to accomodate European pallets (in the case of dry vans). Pallet wide containers’ charcteristics are equal to standard containers’ ones, except dimentions. Although pallet wide containers are typically not used in worldwide service.

Size

Weights*

Capacity*

Dimensions*

Length

Width

Height

Max. Gross

Tare

Max. Payload

20′

Pallet Wide Ctnr

30480 kg

2550 kg

27930 kg

39 cub.m

Internal

5903 mm

2434 mm

2686 mm

Door Openings

2436 mm

2592 mm

40′

Pallet Wide Ctnr

34000 kg

4200 kg

29800 kg

78.6 cub.m

Internal

12050 mm

2422 mm

2692 mm

Door Openings

2390 mm

2260 mm

40′

High Cube Pallet Wide Ctnr

38270 kg

4270 kg

34000 kg

79.2 cub.m

Internal

12100 mm

2442 mm

2680 mm

Door Openings

2394 mm

2565 mm

HARD TOP CONTAINERS

Hard top conatainer has two typical distinguishing structural features. On the one hand, it is equipped with a removable steel roof. In some types, this roof has points for accommodating forklift trucks, allowing the roof to be lifted by forklift truck. The roof weighs approx. 450 kg. In addition, 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. In the case of transport of an overheight cargo, the container roof may be left open and fastened directly to a side wall on the inside of the container. To do this, the roof only needs approx. 13 cm (5 1/8″) of space. Usual hard-top container dimensions are 20′ and 40′.

Hard-top containers are used for all types general cargo (dry cargo). Their principal uses are as follows:

Heavy cargo
Tall cargo

Loading from above or through the doors by crane or crab

Size	Weights*			Capacity*	Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
	Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload
20′ Hard Top Ctnr	67200 kg	2590 kg	27890 kg	32.8 cub.m	External	6096 mm	2362 mm	2590 mm
					Internal	5886 mm	2342 mm	2388 mm
					Door Openings		2336 mm	2276 mm
					Roof Openings	5590 mm	2208 mm
40’ Hard Top Ctnr	30480 kg	4700 kg	25780 kg	67.2 cub.m	External	12192 mm	2438 mm	2591 mm
					Internal	12020 mm	2342 mm	2388 mm
					Door Openings		2336 mm	2292 mm
					Roof Openings	11724 mm	2208 mm
40’ High Cube Hard Top Ctnr	30480 kg	4900 kg	25580 kg	75.8 cub.m	External	12192 mm	2438 mm	2896 mm
					Internal	12020 mm	2342 mm	2693 mm
					Door Openings		2336 mm	2597 mm
					Roof Openings	11724 mm	2208 mm

OPEN TOP CONTAINERS

Open top container 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. It should be noted, however, that 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. 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 are as follows:

Packing and unpacking from above or through the doors by crane or crab
Tall cargo

Size	Weights*			Capacity*	Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
	Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload
20’ Open Top Ctnr	30480 kg	2350 kg	28130 kg	32.5 cub.m	External	6096 mm	2362 mm	2590 mm
					Internal	5888 mm	2345 mm	2365 mm
					Door Openings		2335 mm	2280 mm
					Roof Openings	5415 mm	2205 mm
40’ Open Top Ctnr	30480 kg	3850 kg	26630 kg	66.4 cub.m	External	12192 mm	2438 mm	2591 mm
					Internal	12029 mm	2342 mm	2376 mm
					Door Openings		2336 mm	2230 mm
					Roof Openings	11544 mm	2230 mm

FLAT RACK CONTAINERS

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. Flatracks are mainly used to transport heavy-lifts and overheight or overwidth cargoes.

Size

Weights*

Internal Dimensions*

Max. Gross

Tare

Max. Payload

Length

Width

Height

20’ Flat Rack Container

34000 kg

2740 kg

31260 kg

6038 mm

2438 mm

2213 mm

40’ Flat Rack Container

30480 kg

4200 kg

26280 kg

12086 mm

2224 mm

1981 mm

40’ High Cube Flat Rack Container

45000 kg

5700 kg

39300 kg

12060 mm

2365 mm

2245 mm

PLATFORMS (PLATS)

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 available in 20′ and 40′ sizes. Platforms are used principally for oversized and very heavy cargoes

Size

Weights*

Dimensions*

Max. Gross

Tare

Max. Payload

Length

Width

Floor Height

20’ Platform

30480 kg

2520 kg

27960 kg

6058 mm

2438 mm

370 mm

40’ Platform

45000 kg

5700 kg

39300 kg

12192 mm

2245 mm

648 mm

VENTILATED CONTAINERS

Ventilated containers are also known as passive (naturally) ventilated or coffee containers. Ventilation is provided by ventilation openings in the top and bottom side rails. The openings do not let in spray, to prevent depreciation of the cargo by rain or spray, for example. The common size for ventilated containers is 20′. Ventilated containers are used especially for cargoes which have to be ventilated in transit. One of the most significant of such commodities is green coffee beans, hence the name coffee container.

Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
External	6068 mm	2438 mm	2591 mm
Internal	5888 mm	2325 mm	2392 mm
Door Openings		2334 mm	2290 mm
Weights*			Capacity*
Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload	Capacity*
30480 kg	2400 kg	28080 kg	33.0 cub.m

REFRIGIRATED AND INSULATED CONTAINERS

Refrigerated and insulated containers are mainly available as 20′ and 40′ containers. A distinction may be drawn between two different systems.

1. Integral Units (Integral Reefer Containers, Integrated Units)

This type of refrigerated container has an integral refrigeration unit for controlling the temperature inside the container.

When being transported by ship, integral units have to be connected to the on-board power supply system. For transport by road and rail, most integral unit refrigeration units are operated by a generator set (genset). This may either be a component of the refrigeration unit or connected to the refrigeration unit. Refrigerated containers are used for goods which need to be transported at a constant temperature above or below freezing point. These goods are divided into chilled goods and frozen goods, depending on the specified transport temperature. They principally include fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products, such as butter and cheese. High-cube integral units are used in particular for voluminous and light goods (e.g. fruit, flowers). Nowadays, goods requiring refrigeration are mostly transported in integral units, which have a markedly higher market share than porthole containers.

Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
External	6096 mm	2370 mm	2591 mm
Internal	5455 mm	2260 mm	2275 mm
Door Openings		2237 mm	2260 mm
Weights*			Capacity*
Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload	Capacity*
27000 kg	3050 kg	23950 kg	28.0 cub.m

Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
External	12192 mm	2438 mm	2591 mm
Internal	11555 mm	2286 mm	2280 mm
Door Openings		2285 mm	2245 mm
Weights*			Capacity*
Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload	Capacity*
30480 kg	4370 kg	26110 kg	60.2 cub.m

Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
External	12192 mm	2438 mm	2895 mm
Internal	11560 mm	2286 mm	2500 mm
Door Openings		2286 mm	2478 mm
Weights*			Capacity*
Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload	Capacity*
30480 kg	4200 kg	26280 kg	60.2 cub.m

2. Insulated Containers (Porthole Containers)

This type of container is often referred to not as a refrigerated container but as an insulated container, as it has no integral refrigeration unit. On board, the inside of the container is supplied with cold air via the ship’s central cooling plant. The air flows through the container in the same way as in integral units. cold air is blown in at the bottom and the “warm” air is removed at the top.

Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
External	6096 mm	2362 mm	2590 mm
Internal	5724 mm	2286 mm	2014 mm
Door Openings		2286 mm	2067 mm
Weights*			Capacity*
Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload	Capacity*
24000 kg	2550 kg	21450 mm	26.4 cub. m

Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
External	12192 mm	2438 mm	2591 mm
Internal	11840 mm	2286 mm	2120 mm
Door Openings		2286 mm	2195 mm
Weights*			Capacity*
Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload	Capacity*
30480 kg	3850 kg	26630 kg	60.6 cub. m

BULK CONTAINERS

Bulk (or bulk cargo) containers have three loading hatches in the roof, each of a diameter of approx. 455 mm (1 3/4′). The distance between the hatches (center to center) is 1.83 m (6′). On the door side, there are two discharge hatches, which are sometimes equipped with short discharge tubes for guiding the bulk cargo. Alternatively, two unloading hatches may be mounted in the doorways, for emptying the containers. Bulk containers are used in particular for transporting bulk cargo, such as grain, feedstuffs, spices. However, they may also be used for transporting general cargo.

Dimensions*	Length	Width	Height
External	6096 mm	2362 mm	2590 mm
Internal	5934 mm	2358 mm	2340 mm
Door Openings		2335 mm	2292 mm
Weights*			Capacity*
Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload	Capacity*
24000 kg	2450 kg	21550 kg	32.9 cub.m

TANK CONTAINERS

Tank containers are used for liquid cargoes, such as:

Foodstuffs: fruit juices, spirits, sweet oils
chemicals: hazardous materials, such as fuels, toxic substances, corrosion protection

If the cargo requires temperature-controlled transport, tank containers can be equipped with insulation or heating.

External Dimensions To ISO*
Length	Width	Height
6058 mm	2438 mm	2438 mm
Weights*
Max. Gross	Tare	Max. Payload
30480 kg	4190 kg	26290 kg

* Container can slightly differ in dimentions, weights and capacity from mentioned above owing to it's manufacturer

Request Quote Form

Testimonial

What our clients say about our service

Bharat Shipping Agencyy has been an exceptional logistics partner for our business. Whether it’s sea freight or last-minute air shipments, they handle everything flawlessly. Their team manages documentation and customs so smoothly that we never have to worry. Truly a stress-free shipping experience from start to end.

We’ve trusted Bharat Shipping Agencyy for all our road and sea freight requirements for years. Their coordination from factory pickup to final delivery is always on point. The level of transparency and communication they maintain sets them apart. Highly reliable and truly committed to customer success.

Bharat Shipping Agencyy makes international shipping incredibly easy. Their team handles the paperwork, customs clearance, and the entire logistics chain with absolute professionalism. Thanks to their efficiency, we can focus completely on scaling our business without worrying about cargo delays