The intermodal container may be called by other names such as a box, ISO Container, high-cube container, sea can, freight container, container and conex box. These units are made from standardized reusable steel. They offer safe and secure and efficient storage for transporting materials across the world via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
The word "Intermodal" means that the container is capable of being moved from one kind of transport to another. Like for example, intermodal refers from ship to rail or ship to truck, without having to reload and unload the container's contents. Several of the container lengths that have a distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them vary from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 17.07m or 56 feet. These units are as high as 8 feet or 2.438 m to 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are about 17 million intermodal containers within the globe of various types to suit a range of cargoes.
These containers can be transported by semi-truck trailer, container ship and freight trains. They could also travel numerous distances without having to be unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes by container cranes. Often times a reach-stacker is employed to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These units are secured during transportation by a range of "twistlock" points located at every corner on the container.
Each and every container is equipped with a certain bin identification code or BIC code that is painted on the outside to be able to take care of identification and tracking. These units are capable of carrying items ranging roughly 20 to 25 tonnes.
When utilizing rail transport, the containers can be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars are specifically designed for transport by containers. They can safely and efficiently accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system could actually restrict the types of container shipment and the particular modes of the shipment. For instance, the smaller loading gauges which are usually found within European railroads will just handle single-stacked containers. In some countries like the United Kingdom, there are some sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could use well cars only.
These containers are made sturdy enough to last through the numerous travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by businesses and are able to transport large amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for transporting many of the stuff we depend on everyday all over the world.