Understanding Container Door Information
Part 01 Common Container Owners & Related Concepts
COSCO: COSCO Shipping
OOCL: Orient Overseas Container Line
MSC: Mediterranean Shipping Company
MSK: Maersk Line
CMA: CMA CGM
YML: Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.
EMC: Evergreen Marine Corp.
HMM: Hyundai Merchant Marine
SIN: Sinotrans
HPL: Hapag-Lloyd
CMA: CMA CGM
SITC: SITC International
ONE: Ocean Network Express
箱主 (Container Owner): The owner of the container.
SOC (Shipper's Own Container): Refers to a container supplied by the shipper, not the carrier.
COC (Carrier's Own Container): Refers to a container supplied by the carrier. This is the counterpart to an SOC box.
OWC (One Way Container): A single-trip container that does not need to be returned empty. The consignee at the destination takes both the container and the cargo, and does not need to return the empty box because the seller has included the container cost in the goods' price for the buyer.
Note: SOC and COC do not necessarily mean the shipper or carrier is the actual owner; the container could also be leased by the shipper or carrier.
Part 02 Common Container Specifications
Common shipping container specifications are as follows:
40'HQ (40HC):
40 feet long, 9 feet 6 inches high.
Approximately 12.192m long, 2.9m high, 2.35m wide.
General cargo capacity: about 68 CBM.
40'GP (40GP):
40 feet long, 8 feet 6 inches high.
Approximately 12.192m long, 2.6m high, 2.35m wide.
General cargo capacity: about 58 CBM.
20'GP (20GP):
20 feet long, 8 feet 6 inches high.
Approximately 6.096m long, 2.6m high, 2.35m wide.
General cargo capacity: about 28 CBM.
45'HQ (45HC):
45 feet long, 9 feet 6 inches high.
Approximately 13.716m long, 2.9m high, 2.35m wide.
General cargo capacity: about 75 CBM.
Common Calculation Practices:
20GP: 5.9x2.33x2.38m / 28 CBM (Container capacity 31 CBM)
40GP: 12.02x2.33x2.38m / 58 CBM (Container capacity 67 CBM)
40HQ: 12.02x2.33x2.69m / 68 CBM (Container capacity 76 CBM)
Part 03 Container Types & Standards
1. Types
GP/FT (General Purpose / Dry Container): Standard box.
OT (Open Top): Open top, suitable for over-height cargo (e.g., machinery), covered with a tarpaulin.
FR (Flat Rack): No side walls, suitable for over-length cargo (e.g., steel).
RF (Reefer): Temperature adjustable between -30°C to +30°C. Requires pre-cooling 72 hours before loading.
2. Specifications & Weight Limits
20'GP Weight Limits:
Standard Gross Weight: Recommended to be controlled within 21 tons for most routes; some special routes or ports may require reduction to 17.5 tons.
Maximum Payload: The MAX. WT. marked on the door is usually 30,480 KG (including tare weight). After deducting the tare weight (approx. 2.2-2.4 tons), the actual cargo weight is about 28,120 KG (approx. 28 tons).
Common Limit Range: 17.5 - 26.5 tons, generally recommended to manage within 28 tons.
Part 04 Overweight Handling & Other Key Points
1. Overweight Handling
Tare Weight & Payload:
20'GP tare weight is ~1.7-2.4 tons, can load up to ~28 tons of cargo.
40'HQ tare weight is ~3.4-4.0 tons, can load up to ~26.5 tons of cargo.
Calculation must ensure: Cargo Gross Weight ≤ (Max Payload - Tare Weight). Overweight will incur extra charges.
Domestic Trucking: Over 15 tons (for 20') or 21 tons (for 40') usually incurs overweight fees for local trucking in China.
Shipping Line Surcharges: Most carriers impose high overweight surcharges for cargo over 23 tons. Confirm specific standards with the freight forwarder in advance.
Port Gate-in Limits (Practical):
The total gross weight (cargo + container tare) for a 20' container generally must not exceed 30.48 tons at many ports. Being overweight may prevent gate-in.
While 20'GP and 40'HQ have a typical cargo weight limit of 28 tons, it's possible to overload to 30-32 tons with extra fees. Exceeding this is risky and depends on port crane capacity. Reputable forwarders or customs brokers often do not allow weights over 32 tons, which itself requires checking the port's crane capacity.
2. Seal Number
Used to lock the container doors and prevent cargo theft. Damaged seals must be reported to the shipping line immediately.
Seals are provided by the shipping line, costing $5-10 each. The seal number must be stated on the Bill of Lading.
3. Container Type Selection
Compare total cargo volume with container capacity to choose the most suitable type, while also considering weight limits.
If total volume is close to 28 CBM (or ~33 CBM based on internal calc), prioritize 20'GP.
If over 28/33 CBM but less than 58/67 CBM, use 40'GP.
If over 58/67 CBM and cargo is light, using 40'HQ is more economical.
Weight Limit Consideration:
Besides volume, the maximum payload must be calculated.
Total cargo weight (including packaging) must be less than the container's maximum payload.
Some countries/regions have road weight restrictions (e.g., USA, Europe), requiring special attention.
4. FCL vs LCL
LCL (Less than Container Load): Suitable for small shipments under ~15 CBM. Multiple shippers' goods are consolidated into one container. Freight cost is shared based on volume.
FCL (Full Container Load): Suitable for shipments ≥ ~20 CBM or requiring exclusive space. A single shipper uses the entire container. Freight is calculated per container.
