The intermodal container could be called by other names like a box, ISO Container, high-cube container, freight container, sea box, container and conex box. These models are made from standardized reusable steel. They provide secure and efficient and safe storage for moving materials all over the globe via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
The term "Intermodal" refers that the container could be moved from one kind of transport to another. For instance, intermodal refers from ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to reload and unload the contents of the container. A few 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 models are as high as 2.438 m or 8feet to 9 feet, 6 inches or 2.9 m. It is estimated that there are around 17 million intermodal containers in the world of various kinds to suit a variety of cargoes.
Containers could be transported by freight train, semi-truck trailer and container ship. They can travel the distance of a single journey without being unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes using container cranes. Normally 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 each corner on the container.
Every container is outfitted with a specific BIC code or bin identification code that is painted on the outside in order to take care of identification and tracking. These units can carry items ranging about 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container may be carried on flatcars or on well cars. Well cars have been designed particularly for use by intermodal containers. They can efficiently and safely accommodate double-stacked containers. The loading gauge of a rail system may actually limit the types of container shipment and the particular modes of the shipment. For instance, the smaller loading gauges which are normally found within European railroads will just handle single-stacked containers. In some nations like the UK, there are certain sections of the rail network that cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could utilize well cars only.
These containers are made strong enough to last through the many travels across extreme distances. These containers are reused by businesses and are able to transport huge amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for transporting many of the objects we rely on everyday all over the world.