Indian Maritime University

BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE

Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes

3.1 Types of containers

3.1.3 Container markings

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Markings on Container

2 1 5

3 6

4 7
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 Indian Maritime University

3.1.3 Container markings

1. Owner’s name and Logo

2. Classification Society Shield
3. Custom Seal
4. Repairing Company

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 3.1.3 Container markings

5. Container Number
6. Capacity and weight
7. Manufacturer’s certification
8. Dimensions name plate

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 3.1.3 Container markings
Tally sticker

In addition to the permanent

information displayed on the Door
panel of the Container; upon
completion of stuffing of the
Container at the freight station
(CFS), a sticker is displayed on the
Door. The label will contain the
following information…..
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Information on Tally Sticker

CONTAINER NUMBER
DATE OF STUFFING
PORT OF STUFFING
NUMBER OF PACKAGES
GROSS WEIGHT OF CARGO
GROSS WEIGHT OF CONTAINER
PORT OF DESTINATION
CONTAINER SEAL NUMBER
HAZARDOUS: IMO CLASS
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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.1 Types of containers

3.1.3 Container markings

Rating
Tare Mass
Payload of Containers

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 3.1.3 Container markings
Rating (MGW)

is the Maximum Gross Weight,

that is, the maximum permissible
weight of a container plus its contents.

The rating of a 20' dry cargo container

is 24,000 kgs. and a 40', including the
high cube container, is 30,480 kgs.
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 3.1.3 Container markings
Tare weight
is the weight of empty container,
including all fittings and appliances
used in a particular type of container
in its normal operating condition.

A 20’ may weigh up to 2.4 tons

a 40’ may weigh up to 4.2 tons.

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 3.1.3 Container markings
Payload (1)
is the maximum permitted weight of
payload, including the dunnage and
cargo securing arrangements that are
not associated with the container in its
normal operating condition.

Thus, Payload = Rating - Tare Mass.

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 3.1.3 Container markings
Payload (2)
If the tare mass of a 20' dry cargo
container is 2,400 kgs. And a 40‘ is
3,900 kgs., the payload of 20‘
is 21,600 kgs. (i.e., 24,000 kgs. minus
2,400 kgs.) and 40' is 26,580 kgs.
(i.e., 30,480 kgs. minus 3,900 kgs.).

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 3.1.3 Container markings

Payload (3)

However, the exporter may be

prohibited to have that much payload
in areas where there are legal
limitations to the overall load of a
vehicle.

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 3.1.3 Container markings

Payload (4)

It is common to encounter a payload

of 17,500 kgs. or less in the 20'
container, and 24,000 kgs. or less in
the 40' container.

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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
3.1.3 Container markings

The Marking and Identification

The rating, tare mass and payload of a
container is marked on its wall,
usually on the end (rear) door in the
case of an end-loading dry cargo
container.

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 3.1.3 Container markings
Container Number
Each container has an identification
code or container number --- a
combination of the 4-letter characters
that identify the owner (the operator of
container) and the 7-numeric characters
that identify the container. The
container number can be found on the
outer and inner side walls. Eg. YMLU
(Yang Ming Line Unit) 123456 7
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 Marking on the door of a container

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 Marking on the door of a container

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Container identification marking

Marking on the
front end of a
container

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Container identification marking

Marking on the
front end of a
container

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The product group code consists of one of the following
three capital letters:
U - for all freight containers
for detachable freight
J -
container-related equipment
Z - for trailers and chassis

The term owner code may also apply to the combination of owner
code and product group code, which is also known as an alpha
prefix.

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 Container identification number
• The container identification system specified in DIN EN
ISO 6346 consists solely of the elements shown, which can
only be used together:
• Owner code, consisting of three capital letters product
group code, consisting of one of capital letters U, J or Z
six-digit registration number check digit
• The owner code must be unique and registered with the
International Container Bureau (BIC - Bureau International
des Containers - 14, Rue Jean Rey, 75015 Paris), either
directly or through a national registration organization.. In
the Figures shown, the owner code consists respectively of
the letter combinations SUD and TEX.

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 Alpha prefix absent

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 Identification Number
• The check digit can be used to validate whether the owner code,
product group code and registration number have been
accurately transmitted.
• No freight information system (FIS), transport information
system (TIS) or similar data processing system will accept a
container number, if the result of the automatic checking
procedure does not show agreement with the check digit.
• The procedure is deliberately designed to ensure that a number
of transmission errors cannot cancel one another out, resulting in
the acceptance of incorrect data.
• The checking procedure is as follows:
An equivalent numerical value is assigned to each letter of the
alphabet, beginning with 10 for the letter A (11 and multiples
thereof are omitted): 23
 Identification Number
• If the owner code is absent, the container cannot be identified.

The registration or serial number consists of six digits. In the examples

shown, these numbers are 307007 and 452149. If the container number
consists of fewer than six digits, it is preceded by enough zeros to
make a six-digit number sequence.

The check digit, 9 and 6 respectively in the two examples shown, is

always a single-digit number. It is usually in a box, to make it stand
out from the registration number.

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The individual digits of the registration number keep their everyday value, i.e. 1
= 1, 2 = 2 etc..

The following numerical values are accordingly obtained for the two examples
with the alpha prefixes "SUDU" and "TEXU":

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Each of these numbers is multiplied computationally, as a
function of its position, by numerical values of 20 to 29: the first
number by 1, the second by 2, the third by 3 and the 10th by
512.

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The following calculations are performed for the two examples:

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 If the check digits 9 and 6 respectively are correctly input in each case
during data entry, the system accepts the data.
If someone makes a mistake when transmitting a container number and
inputs the alphanumeric sequence TEXU 452159 into a corresponding
system instead of TEXU 452149, the program would perform the
following calculation:

Since the correct check digit for this container is 6, the system would
indicate an error
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CaptRS
 Disadvantage of check digit
The check digit 0 may occur twice, since it arises where the final difference is 0 and
where it is 10. To ensure that this does not happen, the standard recommends that
registration numbers should not be used which produce a final difference of 10. This is
the case, however, with the registration number shown.

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 Other markings

The first digit of the size code indicates the length of the container,
with the number 4 standing for a 40' container.
The second digit indicates height and whether or not a gooseneck
tunnel is present. In our example, the number 3 stands for a height
of 8 foot 6 inches (8'6") with gooseneck tunnel.
The first digit of the type code indicates container type. Here, 1
means that the container is a closed container with ventilation
openings.
The second digit of the type code relates to special features. The 0
used here means opening at the end.
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 Container Codes

In the type code, the first digit (i.e. the 3rd digit overall)
indicates the container type and the second (i.e. the 4th digit
overall) indicates special features.
However, there is a connection between the respective digits,
which the following representation is intended to explain:

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 Container Codes

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 Container Codes

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 Container Codes
This container is 40' long
(4), 8'6" high and has a
gooseneck tunnel (3).
The type code 00 states
that it is a general purpose
container which has
opening(s) at one or both
end(s).
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This container is 20' long
(2) and 8' 6" high (2).
It is a ventilated standard
container (1), with narrow,
passive vents in the upper
part (0).
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 Container Codes

Both of these are 20' containers (2), 8'6" high and

constructed as tank containers(7) suitable for
transporting hazardous materials to a pressure of
6.0 bar.

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 In general, any container used for international transport
must have a valid safety approval plate or "CSC plate".
CSC is the abbreviation for Container Safety Convention.
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 Questions ???

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