Container glossary

36 useful terms in shipping-container trade, transport and conversion. The definitions explain their use; technical, commercial and regulatory conditions must be checked for your project.

ByContainerEU Editorial TeamPublished on February 15, 2026Last updated on October 3, 2026

Formats and types

Dry container(DV, Dry Van): Standard waterproof container with rigid corten steel walls, used for dry goods.
20-foot container(20', 20DV, TEU): Standard format 6.06 m long × 2.44 m wide × 2.59 m tall, usable volume 33 m³, max load ~28 t. Reference unit for capacity calculations (1 TEU). Masses vary by model and individual container: check maximum gross mass on the CSC plate and the marked tare. Maximum payload is maximum gross mass minus tare; also observe vehicle, route and handling-equipment limits. Figures on this page are indicative.
40-foot container(40', 40DV, FEU): Standard format 12.19 m long, usable volume 67 m³, max load ~26 t. Masses vary by model and individual container: check maximum gross mass on the CSC plate and the marked tare. Maximum payload is maximum gross mass minus tare; also observe vehicle, route and handling-equipment limits. Figures on this page are indicative.
High cube (HC)(40HC, Tall container): Container taller than a standard unit of the same length, offering more volume for bulky cargo. Internal dimensions, capacity and payload vary by model: check the specification of the offered container.
Reefer(Refrigerated container): Insulated container equipped with a refrigeration unit. Temperature range, power and supply depend on the model, cargo and operating conditions. Check its specification, connection and cargo requirements; a generator may be needed for the journey.
Open top(Open-top container): Container whose roof is replaced by a removable tarpaulin. Allows crane loading (machinery, oversize loads in height).
Flat rack(Platform container): Platform without a roof or side walls, with fixed or collapsible end walls depending on the model. Used for heavy or oversized cargo; check loading limits, securing and carrier acceptance.
Tank container(ISO tank): Tank mounted in a container frame for cargo compatible with its design. Materials, capacity and equipment vary. Check compatibility, cleaning and the transport rules applicable to the contents and journey with the operator.

Conditions and quality

New container: Clarify what the seller means by new: manufacture date, any previous transport, photos and condition on delivery. Request the applicable warranty terms in writing and compare the total price for the same specification.
First trip(One trip, Single voyage): Usually describes a container sold after one loaded journey from its manufacturing location. Confirm the actual history, previous cargo, treatments and condition with the seller. The label alone establishes neither cleanliness for your use nor a fixed saving against another offer.
Used container: Previously used container whose history and condition should be checked. Grades A, B and C are commercial descriptions with criteria that vary by seller. A grade alone proves neither watertightness nor suitability for transport or conversion.
WWT(Wind & Water Tight): WWT (Wind & Water Tight) describes a condition advertised as wind and water tight. Check the roof, doors and seals, and obtain the delivery condition and any commercial warranty in writing. The label alone creates neither a contractual warranty nor fitness for maritime transport.
Cargo Worthy (CW)(CW): Commercial description indicating claimed suitability for carrying cargo. Check the actual condition and, for transport subject to CSC, the safety plate and current examination scheme, plus carrier requirements. A new or grade A label alone does not establish this suitability.

Measurements and codes

TEU(Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit): Measurement unit: 1 TEU = one 20-foot container. A 40-foot counts as 2 TEU. Standard metric for ship and port terminal capacity.
Payload(Net load): Masses vary by model and individual container: check maximum gross mass on the CSC plate and the marked tare. Maximum payload is maximum gross mass minus tare; also observe vehicle, route and handling-equipment limits. Figures on this page are indicative.
Tare(Empty weight): Mass of the empty container including its fixed equipment. It varies by model and unit: check the marked tare and documentation, and distinguish it from maximum gross mass and payload.
Maximum gross mass (MGW)(MGW, Maximum Gross Weight): Maximum permitted combined mass of the container and its cargo. Check the CSC plate and markings; maximum payload is maximum gross mass minus tare. Lower limits may apply to the vehicle, route or handling equipment.
ISO 6346: Standard for container identification and marking. The number comprises a three-letter owner code, an equipment-category letter (U for a freight container), six serial digits and a check digit. The identifier alone proves neither current ownership nor CSC validity.
CSC(Convention for Safe Containers): For international transport subject to CSC, check the actual container’s safety plate and examination records. Under the periodic scheme, the first examination is due within five years of manufacture, then at intervals no longer than 30 months; an approved continuous examination programme (ACEP) is an alternative with regular operational checks. Confirm the carrier’s requirements. CSC does not certify food suitability or approve a container building.

Logistics and transport

Incoterms(EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP): ICC rules allocating certain obligations, costs and risks in a sale. State the rule, named place and version. Under Incoterms 2020, FOB and CIF apply to sea and inland-waterway transport: risk transfers on board at shipment, even though CIF includes freight and insurance to the destination port. DDP provides import-cleared delivery ready for unloading; check the agreed costs.
THC(Terminal Handling Charges): Handling charges billed by the terminal. Their amount and allocation depend on the terminal, the transport contract and the agreed Incoterm. Request a quote detailing which charges are included and which remain payable by you.
Demurrage: Charges billed by the carrier when a container remains inside the terminal beyond the free time specified in the contract. Free time and rates are set by the carrier’s terms. Distinguish this from detention, which concerns keeping the container outside the terminal; check the contract’s definitions and conditions.
Detention: Charges for keeping a container outside the terminal beyond the agreed free time, for example after a late empty return. Definitions, calculation, charged days and any combined demurrage/detention terms depend on the carrier contract.
Stuffing(Loading): Operation of loading goods into the container at departure. The "stuffing plan" optimises blocking and weight distribution to comply with MGW and avoid damage.
Stripping(Unloading): Reverse operation of stuffing: unloading the goods from the container at the consignee's site upon arrival.

Purchase, rental, taxation

Multi-vendor quotes(Comparison shopping): Requesting several offers for the same need to compare specifications, condition, delivery, taxes and contract terms. Received offers do not necessarily represent the whole market and no fixed saving is guaranteed.
Lead(Qualified prospect): Quote request submitted by an identified buyer with their need specified (type, quantity, delivery, schedule). Distinct from a simple unqualified contact.
Deposit(Security deposit): In rentals, a sum paid or held as security. The amount and refund conditions are set out in the contract; it is not automatically a final cost.
VAT reverse charge(Reverse charge): A mechanism where the customer accounts for VAT when the applicable rules require it. Imports into Great Britain follow UK import-VAT rules; eligible UK VAT-registered businesses may use postponed accounting. Goods moving between the EU and Northern Ireland have separate acquisition-VAT rules. Check the transaction and deduction rights with HMRC or an adviser; no payment or full deduction is automatic.
T2L document: Proof of Union customs status under EU customs procedures. T2L/T2LF may be relevant to a route involving EU goods, but do not replace UK import or transit requirements or grant an automatic VAT exemption. Check the route, including any Northern Ireland arrangements, with the customs authorities.
Temporary admission(TA): UK customs procedure for goods temporarily imported for a qualifying use and later re-exported. Relief depends on the goods and procedure conditions. Check HMRC authorisation, declarations, time limit, any security and duty/VAT treatment before moving the goods; re-export alone does not automatically make the entry tax-free.

Habitat and regulation

Building energy requirements: Rules governing a building’s energy performance. Their scope depends on use, the type of work and the rules applicable at the project date. In the United Kingdom, energy requirements come from the building standards applicable in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Check the building type, use and works with the relevant building-control authority.
Planning and building permission: Permission required for certain construction, installation or use-change projects. The procedure depends on the plot, dimensions, duration, use and protections; neither an area threshold nor three months is a universal rule. In the United Kingdom, planning permission and building-control approval are separate checks, with different systems in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Consult the local planning and building-control authorities; temporary placement is not a universal exemption.
Works declaration or notification: A notification or simplified procedure where it exists and the project meets its conditions. It does not automatically replace permission: check scope and time limits with the competent authority. In the United Kingdom, notification or prior approval only applies where the relevant planning or building-control system provides for it. Check the rules for England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
RAL code(Colour reference): International standard colour reference (e.g. RAL 5010 = gentian blue, RAL 9005 = jet black). Allows specifying without ambiguity the colour of a custom-painted container body.
ATEX(Explosive atmospheres): ATEX refers to equipment intended for potentially explosive atmospheres. In Great Britain, assess workplace fire and explosion risks under DSEAR and check applicable equipment requirements; Northern Ireland has its own applicable regulatory arrangements. Equipment selection depends on the risk assessment and area classification, not proximity to fuel or chemicals alone.

Last editorial review : October 3, 2026

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