Decoding of designations on containers

ISO6346 is an international standard established by The International Container Bureau for the Coding, Identification and Labeling of Shipping Containers which establishes.

• Container identification system:
  • Owner's code, (BIC code)
  • Equipment Category ID
  • Container serial number
  • The check digit
• Size and type code
• Country code
• Operational signs

Container owner code-The code consists of the first three capital letters of the Latin alphabet, serves to designate the main owner or operator of a sea container. Such a code must be registered in International Container Bureau in Paris, providing uniqueness all over the world.

Equipment Category ID -The equipment category identifier consists of one capital letter of the Latin alphabet, which is located immediately after the container owner code:

• U - for all cargo containers
• J - for removable equipment related to cargo containers
• Z - for trailers and chassis

Container number -This is a container serial number consisting of 6 digits designed to uniquely identify the container. 

Check digit- A number that is a means of verifying the authenticity of the owner's code and serial number. The control number is related only to the owner's code, the equipment category identifier and the container serial number.

Country code (optional) -The country code consists of two capital letters of the Latin alphabet, as described in the standard ISO 3166. They indicate the country where the code is registered, not the nationality of the owner or operator of the sea container.

Operational tags -Operational tags are designed to transmit the requested information during the transportation of containers or give a visual warning.

Operational tags include:

• Container weight
• A symbol to indicate the surface of the container
• Electrical hazard warning sign
• Container height is higher than 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)

The security table attached to the container and its purpose.

Since the container is a vehicle for the transportation of goods between States, it has not only standard dimensions, but also the necessary safety for service personnel during transportation. This is achieved by its design and the material used and strength. In confirmation of these facts , the container is attachedKBK plate(Convention on Safe Containers), which is issued by the qualification and supervisory authority of the country. 

English is set as the language of filling in the table. The dimensions of the table are 200 * 100 mm. It is made of corrosion-resistant material. It is attached to the left door of the container in its lower part. The container doors themselves also additionally indicate: own mass, maximum massgrossin kilograms and pounds. The KBK plate serves as a guarantee of the container's safety. 

In this regard, the container is considered certified for safety for the countries that have signed the CBC. The following information is indicated on the plate:

• The country that granted the approval and the approval number, as shown for example in line 1 (the country that granted the approval should be indicated by the distinguishing sign used to indicate the country of registration of vehicles in international traffic);
• Date (month and year) of manufacture;
• The identification number of the container assigned by the manufacturer, or for existing containers for which this number is unknown, the number assigned by the administration;
• Maximum operating gross weight (kilograms and pounds);
• Permissible weight onstackingat 1.8 g (kilograms and pounds), where g is the acceleration of gravity;
• The magnitude of the load during the transverse structural stiffness test (kilograms and pounds);
• The strength of the end wall is indicated in the plate only if the end walls are designed for a load of less than or more than 0.4 of the maximum permissible payload, i.e. 0.4 P;
• The strength of the side wall is indicated on the plate only if the side walls are designed for a load of less than or more than 0.6 of the maximum permissible payload, i.e. 0.6 P; 
• Date (month and year) of the first preventive inspection of new containers and dates (month and year) of subsequent preventive inspections, if the plate is used for this purpose. The countries that have signed the CBC mutually recognize containers with plates certified by national qualification authorities. The volumes and methods of mandatory testing of containers are contained in the ISO standard, as well as in national standards (for example, GOST 20260 of the former USSR).

Tables for determining the size and type of container by the number on the container 4|5|G1