The intermodal container could be called by other names such as a box, high-cube container, ISO container, sea can, freight container, container and conex box. These units are manufactured from standardized reusable steel. They provide safe and secure and efficient storage for moving supplies across the globe via a international containerized intermodal freight system.
The term "Intermodal" refers that the container can be moved from one type of transport to another. Like for example, intermodal means from ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to unload and relaod the container's contents. Some of the container lengths that have a distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 17.07m or 56 feet. These models are as high as 2.438 m or 8feet to 2.9 m or 9 feet, 6 inches. It is estimated that there are around 17 million intermodal containers within the world of different types to suit a variety of cargoes.
Containers could be transported by freight train, semi-truck trailer and container ship. They could travel the distance of a single journey without being unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes utilizing container cranes. A reach-stacker is normally utilized to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a variety of "twistlock" points situated at each corner on the container.
Every container is equipped with a specific bin identification code or BIC code which is painted on the outside in order to take care of identification and tracking. These units are capable of carrying things ranging roughly 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container can be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars have been designed specifically for use by intermodal containers. They could safely and efficiently accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually limit the types of container shipment and the specific modes of the shipment. Like for example, the smaller loading gauges which are normally found in European railroads would just handle single-stacked containers. In certain nations like for example the United Kingdom, there are certain sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they can use well cars only.
These containers are made sturdy enough to last through the many travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by companies and are able to transport huge amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for transporting many of the objects we depend on everyday around the world.