ISO Freight Containers

The acronym ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The ISO freight container refers to a container complying with the ISO container standards in existence at the time of its manufacture.

Containers are available in configurations to take almost every kind of cargo and mode of transportation (ocean, air, road, and rail).

Containers for Intercontinental Use

In terms of the type of cargo for which the containers are mainly intended, they are classified as general cargo container and specific cargo container.

 General Cargo Container

(1)  General purpose (dry cargo) container

	Dry Cargo Container

It is suitable for the widest varieties of cargo. It is fully enclosed and weatherproof, having rigid walls, roof and floor, with at least one of its walls, either end wall (end loading) or side wall (side loading), equipped with doors.

Please see Dimension of General Purpose Containers for the related information.

(2)  Specific purpose container

It is used to facilitate the packing (loading) and emptying (unloading) of container other than by means of doors at one side of the container, and for other specific purposes like ventilation.

• Closed ventilated container
  It is used for the carriage of cargo, such as hides, that cannot stand excessive moisture. It is similar to the dry cargo container with specially designed natural or mechanical (forced) ventilation.
  
  
  
• Open top container
  It is similar to the dry cargo container except that it has no rigid roof, but has a movable or removable cover (e.g. a cover made of canvas, plastic or reinforced plastic material) supported on movable or removable roof bows. The open top container is used for machinery, sheet glass, and other heavy, bulky or long objects.
  
  
  
• Platform (flat rack)
  It does not have a superstructure, that is, rigid side walls and load-carrying structures. The term load refers to static/dynamic form of load (not cargo load) or forces arising out of the lifting, handling, securement and transporting of container. It is equipped with top and bottom corner fittings. The corner fittings (see diagram in the Dimension of General Purpose Containers) provide means of supporting, stacking, handling and securing the container. The flat rack is used for machinery, lumber, and other heavy or large objects.
  
  
  
• Platform based containers open sided

 Specific Cargo Container

(1)  Thermal container (reefer)

It has insulated walls, doors, roof, and floor, which limit the range of temperature loss or gain. It is used for perishable goods like meat, fruits and vegetables.

• Insulated container
  It does not use any device for cooling and/or heating.
  
  
  
• Refrigerated container (with expendable refrigerant)
  It uses dry ice or liquefied gases. It does not require external power supply or fuel supply.
  
  
  
• Mechanically refrigerated container
  It uses a refrigerating appliance, that is, the mechanical compressor or absorption unit.
  
  
  
• Heated container
  It uses the heater, that is, a heat-producing appliance.
  
  
  
• Refrigerated and heated container
  It uses the refrigerating appliance (mechanical or expendable refrigerant) and heater.

(2)  Tank container

It is used for the carriage of bulk gases and liquids like chemicals.

(3)  Dry bulk container

It is used for the carriage of dry solids in bulk without packaging, such as grains and dry chemicals. It consists of a cargo-carrying structure firmly secured within the intercontinental container framework.

(4)  Named cargo types

It consists of various types of containers, such as automobile (car) containers and livestock (cattle and poultry) containers.

Unit Load Device (ULD)

The unit load device (ULD) is the air equivalent of the ISO container. Due to its unique shape resembling an igloo, the ULD is sometimes called the igloo (or iglu).

The air mode containers mainly are of the IATA (International Air Transport Association) types. The popular sizes of ULD include the IATA Type:

IATA Type
8   lower deck container,	60.4"	x  61.5"	x  64"
5   lower deck container,	88"	x  125"	x  64"
3   main deck container,	88"	x  125"	x  86"

Several other types of ULD are also in use worldwide.