The Container glossary from Coin Container explains the technical terms relating to shipping and storage containers – from the CSC plate being carried out by High Cube to an Thermal bridge. Each entry gives a short, precise definition and a practical tip for purchase, rental, transport or conversion.
Is a term missing? Let us know – we will add it.
C
- Cargo Worthy (CW) – Condition grade for used containers: intended for transport, approved for overseas use with a valid CSC plate.
- CMR consignment note – International consignment note for cross-border road freight transport under the CMR Convention.
- Container floor (film-faced plywood) – The floor of a shipping container consists of 28 mm thick, glued plywood panels (usually bamboo or hardwood) on steel cross members.
- Corten steel (weathering structural steel) – Low-alloy steel that forms a firmly adhering layer of rust on its surface, which protects it from further corrosion without the need for paint.
- CSC plate – Mandatory plate under the International Convention for Safe Containers, certifying a container's safety for sea transport.
D
- Double Door container (tunnel container) – Container with doors at both ends – for through loading, access from both sides and flexible partitioning.
E
- Corner fitting (corner casting) – Standardised cast steel fitting at each of the eight container corners with oval openings for twistlocks, crane hooks and lashing equipment.
F
- FCL and LCL – FCL = Full Container Load (one shipper fills the entire container), LCL = Less than Container Load (consolidated cargo from several shippers).
- Flat Rack – Container without side walls and roof, with folding or fixed end walls – for over-width and over-height cargo.
H
- High Cube – Container design with an external height of 2.896 mm – around 30 cm taller than the standard container.
I
- ISO 6346 – Standard for marking freight containers – owner prefix, serial number, check digit and size/type code.
K
- Tilt chassis (roll-off container delivery) – Truck trailer that tilts the container and lets it roll off backwards – the affordable alternative to a crane truck.
L
- Lock Box – Welded steel box on the container door that completely encloses an inserted shackle padlock, protecting it from bolt cutters and crowbars.
O
- One-way container – Container that has made only a single sea voyage ("one way") from its place of manufacture to the destination port and looks almost like new.
- Open Top container – Container with an open top that is closed with a tarpaulin and roof bows – for loading from above by crane.
- Open Side container – Container whose entire long side can be opened via doors – for wide access and fast loading and unloading with a forklift.
R
- Reefer (refrigerated container) – Actively cooled container with an integrated refrigeration unit that maintains a set target temperature – as opposed to an insulated container, which relies on passive insulation.
T
- Dew point and condensation – Temperature at which humidity condenses as water on a cold surface – the cause of "container rain" inside a container.
- TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) – Standard unit of container logistics: one TEU equals one 20 ft container; a 40 ft container counts as two TEU.
- Twistlock (rotating lock) – Locking element that engages the corner fittings of two containers and connects them with a positive fit when turned by 90°.
V
- Permit-exempt construction project – Construction project that may be carried out without a building permit under the state building code – for containers, depending on size, use, duration and federal state.
W
- Wind and Watertight (WWT) – Condition grade for used containers: sealed against rain and wind, with signs of wear but without damage that goes all the way through.
- Thermal bridge – Point in the building envelope with increased heat loss – in a container, mainly the continuous steel frame at the corners, floor and roof.