Overview - Seafreight Containers

General Purpose Container

High Cube Container

• General-purpose containers are manufactured from either Aluminium or steel, they are suitable for most types of cargo.
• Aluminium containers have a slightly larger payload than steel, and steel containers have a slightly larger internal cube.

• With high cube containers, you gain an extra foot in height compared with general-purpose containers.
• Ideal for light, voluminous cargo or bulky cargo. These extra volume containers come in 40 ft and 45 ft sizes in steel and aluminium.

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Open Top Container

Flatracks Container

• Allowing cargo to be loaded from the top, open top containers are particularly suitable for bulky cargo such as machinery.
• They are fitted with a PVC tarpaulin cover and attachable bows with cable sealing devices.
• The container doors can be removed to make the stuffing of cargo more convenient. Manufactured from steel, open top containers come in 20ft and 40ft sizes

• Flatracks are especially suited to heavy loads or cargo that needs loading from the top or sides, such as pipes and machinery.
• Shipping lines offers collapsible and non-collapsible containers with or without walls. Manufactured from steel, flatrack containers come in 20 ft and 40 ft sizes.

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AIR CARGO CONTAINERS FALL INTO THREE BASIC CATEGORIES:

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Air Cargo Pallets

Lower Deck Containers

• Designed for use with conveyor systems in terminals and in aircraft, the low-profile flat pallet is equipped with fittings for securing the pallet firmly to the aircraft deck.
• Cargo is normally secured to the pallet by nets, tightened over cargo by application of tensioned straps.
• Pallets are often covered with contoured semi-structural covers called "igloos," "hulahuts," or "cocoons" to provide protection and keep cargo within safe dimensions for loading in aircraft. Igloos may be attached to the pallet by cargo nets that are placed over the exterior, or the igloo may be permanently attached to the pallet.
• Common sizes and capacities of pallets are listed in the table. Dimensions and cubes will vary slightly.

• Developed by use in the lower deck cargo spaces of high-capacity aircraft. They are fully structured and completely enclosed.
• Cargo is loaded into the container which may be equipped with shelves for accommodation of small of irregularly shaped cargo.
• The container doors, metal or fabric (or a combination), are closed, sealed and locked.
• Containers are locked directly into the aircraft restraint systems without need for nets or tiedowns.

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"Box - Type Containers"

• Developed in standard sized to facilitate establishment of uniform shipping rates, they are used to consolidate shipments.
• Available from various manufacturers, they may be purchased by the shipped or used by freight forwarders to consolidate the shipper's cargo into one easily handled and rated unit.
• Constructed of wood, plastic, plywood, fiberboard, metal or combinations of these materials, all must conform to the basic standards prescribed by the Air Transportation Association (ATA) for domestic use or the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) for international shipments.
• Contoured "Boxes" - (igloo configuration) are handled and loaded aboard aircraft in the same manner as pallet-igloo combinations.
• Square-sided box-type containers are normally loaded on pallet-igloo combinations by the carrier for stowage aboard the aircraft.
• The table shown on the right lists standard IATA containers. Minor variations in internal dimensions and cube will occur due to the differences in construction techniques and materials used. All dimensions are in inches.

Consult your forwarder for specifics on excluded items and on articles prohibited by IATA "Restricted Articles Regulations." Also consult your forwarder if you need clarifications. The above information and data serve only as a guide. The information and data various with carriers