The intermodal container can be referred to by other names like a box, high-cube container, ISO container, freight container, sea box, container and conex box. These models are made from standardized reusable steel. They offer secure and efficient and safe storage for moving supplies across the globe via a global containerized intermodal freight system.
The word "Intermodal" means that the container could be moved from one kind of transport to another. For example, intermodal means from ship to truck or ship to rail, without having to reload and unload the contents of the container. Some of the container lengths which have a distinctive ISO 6346 reporting mark on them range from 8-feet or 2.438 m to 56 feet or 17.07m. These units 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 of different types to suit a variety of cargoes in the world.
Containers can be transported by container ship, freight train and semi-truck trailer. They can travel the distance of a single journey without being unpacked. At container terminals, they are transferred between modes utilizing container cranes. Normally a reach-stacker is utilized to transfer from a flat-bed truck to a rail car. These models are secured during transportation by a range of "twistlock" points situated at each corner on the container.
Every container is equipped with a specific BIC code or bin identification code which is painted on the outside in order to take care of identification and tracking. These models are capable of carrying things ranging approximately 20 to 25 tonnes.
For transport on rails, the container could be carried on well cars or on flatcars. Well cars have been designed especially for use by intermodal containers. They could accommodate double-stacked containers efficiently and safely. The loading gauge of a rail system can actually limit the kinds of container shipment and the specific modes of the shipment. Like for example, the smaller loading gauges that are usually found in European railroads will just handle single-stacked containers. In certain countries such as the United Kingdom, there are some sections of the rail network which cannot accommodate high-cube containers, unless they could utilize 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 large amounts of cargo. These containers are responsible for transporting many of the stuff we rely on everyday all over the globe.