Correct decoding of markings on shipping containers allows you to select the optimal transport module, track its movement in real time and ensure high cargo safety.
Letter marking
The letter code indicates the type of cargo for which the sea container is intended. The letters of the Latin alphabet are used for marking and are grouped together. According to the European standard, the letter groups on sea containers are deciphered as follows:
- GP – marine module suitable for transportation of all types of cargo;
- DC (DV) – container for transportation of dry cargo;
- E, RT, RS – refrigerated tank;
- HI, HR – insulated container for transportation of thermal cargoes;
- VH – container for transportation of cargoes requiring constant ventilation;
- UT, OT – roofless module (usually covered with tarpaulin, rigid film or other covering);
- PF, PS, PC, PL – platform module;
- TN, TG, TD – tank for transportation of liquids (tank-containers);
- BU, BC – module for transportation of bulk cargoes;
- SN – sea containers for transportation of animals, fish and other representatives of flora and fauna.
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Alphanumeric code
The alphanumeric marking is placed on the roof, doors and walls of the sea container. This code consists of two lines and contains basic information about the sea container. The specific code consists of letters (Latin) and Arabic numerals. The marking of the first line is deciphered as follows:
- The first three letters of the Latin alphabet are the owner’s code. Each combination of letters is unique and is assigned upon registration with the International Authority.
- The fourth letter describes the category of installation. The following designations are used here: U – lifting equipment, J – demountable equipment, Z – trailers, chassis, R – refrigerated tanks.
- Arabic numerals indicate the serial number of the cargo container. This code always consists of six digits. If the number of digits is insufficient, zeros are added to the number (usually before the digits). The serial number is always unique and identifies the manufacturer and the batch of products.
- The seventh digit is a control digit and serves to verify the validity of the information contained in the marine module. This digit is calculated according to a special methodology described in ISO 6346:1995.
The second line contains the following information:
- Two capital Latin letters are the national registration code of the serial number of the shipping container. The country codes are reflected in ISO 6346:1995. This coding is not always indicated on the surface of the container as it is not considered mandatory.
- The combination of Latin letters and numbers encodes the dimensions of the container. The first letter is the length of the container and the second letter is the height and width of the container. The standards provide special decoding tables that define the correspondence between letters, numbers and dimensions. According to these tables, the dimensions of shipping containers may be indicated by two letters, two digits or a combination of letters and digits.
The last combination of letters and numbers is the code for the type of shipping container. In this code, the alphabetic symbol indicates the type of shipping container and the numeric symbol indicates its main characteristics.
In addition, the surface of the container is marked with operational inscriptions informing about the technical characteristics. For example, the module walls indicate the internal volume (m³), maximum empty and full weights (kg and lbs), electrical safety parameters (kW), etc. In addition, there is a “safety plate” on the door of the module. These plates contain information on the quality of the materials used in the manufacturing process, the possible weight load, the strength of the ends and side walls, the rigidity of the structure and the date of manufacture of the tank.
