Have you ever noticed the long string of letters and numbers on a shipping container? It’s easy to make a mistake when entering these codes, but what exactly do they represent, and what pattern do they follow? Let’s take a closer look at the container number system using an example from our company’s cargo shipment.

What is a Container Number?

A container number is like a personal identification number for the container. Each container has a unique ID, ensuring no two containers are ever the same. Container numbers follow the ISO 6346 (1995) standard, which consists of an 11-character code divided into three main sections. Let’s break it down:

 1. The First Part: The Owner Code

The first section is made up of four letters. The first three letters, “MSC”, represent the container owner code. In this case, “MSC” refers to a company based in Taiwan. The fourth letter, “U”, denotes the container type, with “U” indicating a general-purpose container.

 2. The Second Part: The Unique Registration Number

This section contains six digits, which make up the container's registration number. This is the unique identifier for each individual container.

 3. The Third Part: The Check Digit

The final part is the check digit, often displayed in a box to distinguish it from the registration number. It’s used to verify the accuracy of the owner code and the serial number through a specific calculation.

Next, we analyze the meaning of the numbers in the second row:

45: Represents the container size (in feet).

R1: Indicates the container type. In this case, it’s a 40' HC (High Cube) refrigerated container, designed for both heating and cooling.

 Key Container Information:

Here’s a quick rundown of some important markings you’ll find on a container:

• M.G.W. (Maximum Gross Weight): The total weight of the container, including its own weight and the weight of the cargo it can carry. In this case, the maximum gross weight is 35,000 KGS / 77,160 LBS. Exceeding this weight means the container cannot be loaded onto the dock or ship.

• TARE: The weight of the container itself, which for this example is 4,590 KGS / 10,120 LBS.

• NET/PAYLOAD: The maximum weight of the cargo that can be loaded into the container. For this container, the maximum cargo weight is 30,410 KGS / 67,040 LBS.

• CU. CAP.: The container's capacity, which is the amount of space inside the container for cargo. This is often listed as CU.M for cubic meters or CU.FT for cubic feet. This container’s volume is 67.6 cubic meters (or 2389 cubic feet).

This system ensures that every container is tracked accurately and safely, making the transportation process more efficient. Now that you understand the basics, you’ll be able to read and interpret container numbers with ease!