Containers are widely used in the transportation of import and export goods. Here are some common knowledge about container freight:

1.container

The container refers to a large loading container with appropriate strength, stiffness and specifications for turnover. When the goods are transferred in containers, they can be loaded directly in the warehouse of the shipper and unloaded in the warehouse of the consignee. When changing the vehicle or ship halfway, there is no need to take the goods out of the box for replacement. Classify according to the types of goods loaded, there are general cargo containers, bulk cargo containers, liquid cargo containers, reefer containers, etc; Classify according to the manufacturing materials, there are wood containers, steel containers, aluminum alloy containers, glass fiber reinforced plastic containers, stainless steel containers, etc; Classify according to the structure, there are folding containers, fixed containers, etc. in the fixed containers, there are also closed containers, open top containers, plate containers, etc; Classify according to the total weight, there are 30 ton containers, 20 ton containers, 10 ton containers, 5 ton containers, 2.5 ton containers, etc.

2.container's overall external dimensions

The maximum length, width and height of the outside of the container, including the permanent accessories of the container. It is the main parameter to determine whether containers can be exchanged between ships, chassis cars, freight cars and railway vehicles. It is an important technical data that all transportation departments must master.

3.container's internal dimensions

The maximum length, width and height inside the container. The height is the distance from the bottom plate of the box to the bottom of the top plate of the box, the width is the distance between the two inner lining plates, and the length is the distance from the inner plate of the box door to the inner lining plate of the end wall. It determines the internal volume of the container and the maximum size of the goods in the container.

4.container's unobstructed capacity

The loading volume calculated according to the internal dimension of the container. Containers of the same specification have slightly different volume due to different structures and manufacturing materials. The internal volume of the container is an important technical data that the material department or other boxers must master.

5.twenty-feet equivalent units 

TEU also known as the 20 foot conversion unit, it is the conversion unit for calculating the number of containers. At present, most container transportation in various countries adopts containers of 20 feet and 40 feet long. In order to unify the calculation of the number of containers, 20 foot containers are taken as one calculation unit and 40 foot containers as two calculation units, so as to facilitate the unified calculation of the container operation volume.

6.container leasing

That is a business in which the owner leases empty containers to the user. The owner of the container is the container of the lessor, and the user, usually the shipping company or the owner of the cargo, is the lessee, and both parties sign a lease contract. The lessor shall provide qualified containers for the lessee to use within the agreed scope. There are many different ways of leasing containers in the world, which can be summed up as: way lease, time lease, current lease and resistance lease in the shipping area.

7.container terminal

It is the specific handling department for the exchange and storage of containers or goods during container transportation. It is entrusted by the carrier or its agent to carry out the following businesses:

Exchange and custody of full container freight;

If there is a container freight station, handle the handover of LCL goods;

Arrange the berthing of container ships, load and unload containers, and prepare stowage plans for each voyage;

Handle the preparation and signing of relevant shipping documents;

Prepare and sign relevant documents for the entry, exit and circulation of containers using means of transport;

Handle the inspection and maintenance of containers, means of transportation and loading and unloading tools, as well as the cleaning and fumigation of empty containers;

Receiving, sending, storing and keeping empty containers;

Arrange the stacking of empty and heavy containers in the yard, and prepare the site allocation plan;

Other relevant business work.

The container loading and unloading area is generally composed of special wharf, apron, storage yard, freight station, command tower, repair department, gate and office. Sometimes the storage yard or freight station can extend to the transfer station within the urban area, which is 5-15 kilometers away.

8.marshalling yard

It refers to the site in front of the container terminal where containers are temporarily stacked in order to speed up ship loading and unloading operations. Its function is: when the container ship arrives at the port, the export containers are stacked neatly in a planned and orderly manner according to the stowage requirements, and the import containers are temporarily stacked in front of the dock when unloading, so as to speed up the ship's loading and unloading operations.

9.container yard

A place where heavy or empty containers are handed over, kept and stacked. In some countries, container yards are not divided into front yards or rear yards, which are collectively referred to as yards. The container rear yard is an integral part of the container loading and unloading area. It is the place for handling the handover of full container goods in the "on-site" handover mode of container transportation (in fact, the handover is carried out at the "gate" of the container unloading area).

10.van pool

A place for the collection, storage, stockpiling or handover of empty containers. It is set up only when the container loading and unloading area or transfer station yard is insufficient. This kind of storage yard does not handle heavy containers or goods handover. It can be operated independently or set up outside the container handling area. In some countries, the operation of such empty container yards must be declared to the shipping association.

11.container depot or inland depot

Transfer station or distribution center for container transportation outside the seaport. Its role is the same as that of the container loading and unloading area, except that there is no loading and unloading operation of the special container ship. The measurement of transfer station or inland station includes the urban transfer station of container loading and unloading port, inland city and inland station of inland river port.

12.container freight station 

A place for the delivery of LCL cargo to and from both the ship and the cargo. The carrier can only entrust the operator of one container terminal in a port or inland city. It shall handle the following main businesses on behalf of the carrier:

Tally and handover of LCL goods;

If there is any abnormality in the appearance inspection of the goods, it shall be annotated;

Stowage and packing of LCL goods;

Unpacking and storage of imported unpacked goods;

Put lead seal on behalf of the carrier and issue station receipt;

Handle various documents and preparation, etc.

13.shipper's liabilities

The shipper's responsibility in container transportation is not completely different from that in traditional maritime transportation. The responsibility of LCL shippers is the same as that of traditional shipping. The responsibilities of the full container shipper are different from those of traditional transportation:

Ensure the correctness and completeness of the freight information reported;

The carrier has the right to check the goods in the box, and the shipper shall bear the expenses incurred due to the check;

The shipper shall bear the cost of unpacking inspection by the customs or other authorities and the resulting damage and difference;

If the container cargo is not enough, or the padding is poor, the stowage is improper, or the cargo that is not suitable for container transportation is loaded, resulting in cargo damage and cargo difference, the shipper shall be responsible;

If the shipper's own unseaworthy containers are used, the shipper shall be responsible for the cargo damage accidents caused;

The shipper shall be liable for the damage to the property or life of a third party caused by the use of the carrier's containers and equipment.

14.limits of liability

The maximum amount of compensation that the carrier should bear in case of cargo damage and difference in container transportation. The limitation of liability of LCL cargo is the same as that of traditional transportation. The compensation for a full container of goods is based on some current international precedents: if the bill of lading does not list the number of goods in the box, each box is regarded as a claim calculation unit; If the bill of lading lists the number of packages in the box, it is still calculated by the number of packages; If the damage and loss of the goods are not by sea, but occurred in inland transportation, the maximum compensation for land transportation shall be handled; If the container is owned or provided by the shipper, in case of loss or damage, which is really the responsibility of the carrier, it shall also be regarded as a claim calculation unit.

15.uniform liabili, , ty system

It is a kind of compensation liability system of the transport operator for cargo damage. According to this system, the carrier issuing the through bill of lading is uniformly responsible for the whole transportation of the cargo owner, that is, no matter what transportation stage the damage or difference occurs, it is responsible for the same content of responsibility. If the stage of transportation in which the damage occurred can be found out, the through transport carrier can recover from the actual carrier of the transportation after compensation.

16.network liability system

A system of compensation liability of the combined transport operator for cargo damage. According to this system, although the carrier issuing the through bill of lading is still responsible for the whole transportation to the cargo party, the compensation for damage is not the same as the same liability system, but according to the liability content of the transportation stage in which the damage occurred. For example, if the damage occurs at the stage of maritime transportation, it shall be handled in accordance with the international freight rules; If it occurs in the stage of railway or road transportation, it shall be handled according to relevant international or domestic laws.