View source for ISO 6346

{{short description|International standard covering the coding, identification and marking of shipping containers}}
{{multiple issues|
{{cleanup reorganize|date=March 2016}}
{{how-to|date=March 2016}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=March 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2016}}
}}

{{Infobox technology standard
| title             = ISO 6346
| long_name         = Freight containers -- Coding, identification and marking
| native_name       = <!-- Name in local language. If more than one, separate using {{plain list}} -->
| native_name_lang  = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} inside native_name items instead -->
| image             = Containers ContainerCare Copenhagen.JPG
| caption           = Several newly-washed containers with identification codes visible
| status            = 
| year_started      = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} -->
| first_published   = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} -->
| version           = 
| version_date      = ISO 6346:2022
| preview           = 
| preview_date      = 1984
| organization      = [[International Organization for Standardization]]
| committee         = 
| editors           = 
| authors           = 
| base_standards    =
| related_standards = 
| abbreviation      = 
| domain            = 
| license           = 
| website           = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}

'''ISO 6346''' is an [[international standard]] covering the coding, identification and marking of [[intermodal container|intermodal (shipping) container]]s used within [[containerization|containerized]] [[intermodal freight transport]] by the [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iso.org/standard/83558.html|title=ISO 6346:2022 - Freight containers -- Coding, identification and marking|website=www.iso.org}}</ref> The standard establishes a visual identification system for every container that includes a unique serial number (with [[check digit]]), the owner, a country code, a size, type and equipment category as well as any operational marks. The register of container owners is managed by the [[International Container Bureau]] (BIC).

{{TOC limit|4}}

==Identification system==
Example of an ISO 6346 compliant container number:

[[File:Containernumber.svg|Example of an ISO 6346 compliant container number|300px]]
[[File:Container identificatie.JPG|thumb|right|upright|BIC code on the end of a [[intermodal container|shipping container]]]]
The illustrated example is a code for a container owned by [[Hapag-Lloyd|Hapag-Lloyd AG]].<ref>[https://www.bic-code.org/container-bic-code/csqU/ BIC Codes online], accessed 22 March 2018</ref>

===Owner code===
The owner code consists of three capital letters of the Latin alphabet to indicate the owner or principal operator of the container. Such code needs to be registered at the [[International Container Bureau|Bureau International des Containers]] in Paris to ensure uniqueness worldwide. An owner can apply for more than one code, as normally the first 2 letters are used as the owner code and the third is used to indicate pool (e.g. HLA, HLB, HLX are some Hapag-Lloyd codes to indicate whether container is standard, reefer...)

===Equipment category identifier===
The equipment category identifier consists of one of the following capital letters of the Latin alphabet:
*U for all freight containers
*J for detachable freight container-related equipment
*Z for trailers and chassis

Presently, all official BIC container codes end in "U". However, the [[Association of American Railroads]] recognizes similar codes for their containers and trailers travelling by rail in North America, though these are not recognized by the BIC and lack check digits.

Under the ISO code, then, only U, J, and Z are in use. The refrigerated (reefer) container is identified by means of the size type code.

===Serial number===
The serial number consists of 6 numeric digits, assigned by the owner or operator, uniquely identifying the container within that owner/operator's fleet.

===Check digit===
The check digit consists of one numeric digit providing a means of validating the recording and transmission accuracy of the owner code and serial number.

To compute the check digit, the letters have to be converted to numbers. This is done in three steps:

====Calculation step 1====
An equivalent numerical value is assigned to each letter of the alphabet, beginning with 10 for the letter A (11 and multiples thereof are omitted):

{| class="wikitable" 
|- bgcolor="#dfdfdf"
| width="30" align="center" | '''A''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''B''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''C''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''D''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''E''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''F''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''G''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''H''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''I''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''J''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''K''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''L''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''M''' 
|-----
| align="center" | 10
| align="center" | 12
| align="center" | 13
| align="center" | 14
| align="center" | 15
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 17
| align="center" | 18
| align="center" | 19
| align="center" | 20
| align="center" | 21
| align="center" | 23
| align="center" | 24
|}

{| class="wikitable" 
|- bgcolor="#dfdfdf"
| width="30" align="center" | '''N''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''O''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''P''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''Q''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''R''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''S''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''T''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''U''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''V''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''W''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''X''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''Y''' 
| width="30" align="center" | '''Z''' 
|-----
| align="center" | 25
| align="center" | 26
| align="center" | 27
| align="center" | 28
| align="center" | 29
| align="center" | 30
| align="center" | 31
| align="center" | 32
| align="center" | 34
| align="center" | 35
| align="center" | 36
| align="center" | 37
| align="center" | 38
|}

The individual digits of the serial number keep their numeric value.

====Calculation step 2====
Each of the numbers calculated in step 1 is multiplied by 2<sup>position</sup>, where position is the exponent to base 2. Position starts at 0, from left to right.

The following table shows the multiplication factors:
{| class="wikitable" 
|- bgcolor="#dfdfdf"
| width="70" align="center" | '''1. nbr''' 
| width="70" align="center" | '''2. nbr''' 
| width="70" align="center" | '''3. nbr''' 
| width="70" align="center" | '''4. nbr''' 
| width="70" align="center" | '''5. nbr''' 
| width="70" align="center" | '''6. nbr''' 
| width="70" align="center" | '''7. nbr''' 
| width="70" align="center" | '''8. nbr''' 
| width="70" align="center" | '''9. nbr''' 
| width="70" align="center" | '''10. nbr''' 
|-----
| align="center" | 2<sup>0</sup>
| align="center" | 2<sup>1</sup>
| align="center" | 2<sup>2</sup>
| align="center" | 2<sup>3</sup>
| align="center" | 2<sup>4</sup>
| align="center" | 2<sup>5</sup>
| align="center" | 2<sup>6</sup>
| align="center" | 2<sup>7</sup>
| align="center" | 2<sup>8</sup>
| align="center" | 2<sup>9</sup>
|-----
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 2
| align="center" | 4
| align="center" | 8
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 32
| align="center" | 64
| align="center" | 128
| align="center" | 256
| align="center" | 512
|}

====Calculation step 3====

{{ordered list|type=lower-roman
  | Sum up all results of Step above
  | Divide them by 11
  | The remainder of the division is the check digit.
}}

If the final difference is 10, then the check digit becomes 0. To ensure that this does not happen the standard recommends that serial numbers should not be used which produce a final difference of 10; however, there are containers in the market which do not follow this recommendation, so handling this case has to be included if a check digit calculator is programmed.

Virtually all programming languages have a [[Modulo operation|modulo operator]] for step 3; some languages (also) return the decimal portion which must be multiplied by 11 to get a proper modulo.  11 is used as divisor because a container number has 11 letters and digits in total. In step 1 the numbers 11, 22 and 33 are left out as they are multiples of the divisor.

====Example====

{| cellspacing=0 
|- bgcolor="#dfdfdf"
!
! width="70" style="text-align:right" | C
! width="70" style="text-align:right" | S
! width="70" style="text-align:right" | Q
! width="70" style="text-align:right" | U
! width="70" style="text-align:right" | 3
! width="70" style="text-align:right" | 0
! width="70" style="text-align:right" | 5
! width="70" style="text-align:right" | 4
! width="70" style="text-align:right" | 3
! width="70" style="text-align:right" | 8
! width="120" style="text-align:right" | Calc.
|-----
|
| style="text-align:right" | 13
| style="text-align:right" | 30
| style="text-align:right" | 28
| style="text-align:right" | 32
| style="text-align:right" | 3
| style="text-align:right" | 0
| style="text-align:right" | 5
| style="text-align:right" | 4
| style="text-align:right" | 3
| style="text-align:right" | 8
| 
|-----
| style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;text-align:right" | ×
| style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;text-align:right" | 1
| style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;text-align:right" | 2
| style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;text-align:right" | 4
| style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;text-align:right" | 8
| style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;text-align:right" | 16
| style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;text-align:right" | 32
| style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;text-align:right" | 64
| style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;text-align:right" | 128
| style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;text-align:right" | 256
| style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;text-align:right" | 512
| 
|-----
|
| style="text-align:right" | 13
| style="text-align:right" | 60
| style="text-align:right" | 112
| style="text-align:right" | 256
| style="text-align:right" | 48
| style="text-align:right" | 0
| style="text-align:right" | 320
| style="text-align:right" | 512
| style="text-align:right" | 768
| style="text-align:right" | 4096
| style="text-align:right" | 6185 [a]
|-----
| colspan="11" align=Right | b) Division by 11:
| style="text-align:right" | 562.272...
|-----
| colspan="11" align=Right | c) Erase decimal digits:
| style="text-align:right" | 562
|-----
| colspan="11" align=Right | d) Multiply by 11:
| style="text-align:right" | 6182
|-----
| colspan="11" align=Right | a) minus d) = Check Digit:
| style="text-align:right" | '''3'''
|}

===Practical problems===
In day-to-day business it happens that containers do appear which do not follow the ISO 6346 identification at all; however, they are fully CSC safety approved containers. Usually these are "shippers owned" containers (SOC), which means that they are not owned by the carrier but supplied by the cargo owners (shippers). They may have no registered owner code and no category identifier and have no check digit. It is advisable to follow ISO 6346 as the absence of a compliant identification code causes problems for both carriers and container terminals to correctly identify the equipment and properly deliver the cargo, because computer systems require ISO 6346-conforming naming and as such missing prefixes are invented. For example, YYYY at the carrier and XXXX at the terminal causes the equipment to mismatch. Moreover, since ISO 6346 identification has become a requirement in international Customs conventions (Customs Conventions on Containers and Istanbul Convention), many Customs Administrations have begun validating that containers are marked as per the standard.

==Size and type codes==
The codes are compiled of the following elements:
*First character, representing the length (coded)
*Second character, representing the width and height (coded)
*Third and fourth character indicating the type of the container

The following is an overview of the most common codes:

{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|- bgcolor="#dfdfdf"
| width="300" colspan="2" align="center" | '''ISO Type Group''' 
| width="300" colspan="2" align="center" | '''ISO Size Type''' 
|-----
|- bgcolor="#dfdfdf"
| width="100" align="center" | '''Code'''
| width="200" align="center" | '''Description'''
| width="100" align="center" | '''Code'''
| width="200" align="center" | '''Description'''
|-----
| rowspan="2" | 20GP
| rowspan="2" | GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
| 20G0
| GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
|-----
| 20G1
| GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
|-----
| 20HR
| ISOLADO CONTAINE REEFER
| 20H0
| INSULATED CONTAINER
|-----
| 20PF
| FLAT (FIXED ENDS)
| 20P1
| FLAT (FIXED ENDS)
|-----
| rowspan="4" | 20TD
| rowspan="4" | TANK CONTAINER
| 20T3
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 20T4
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 20T5
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 20T6
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| rowspan="2" | 20TG
| rowspan="2" | TANK CONTAINER
| 20T7
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 20T8
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| rowspan="3" | 20TN
| rowspan="3" | TANK CONTAINER
| 20T0
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 20T1
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 20T2
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 22BU
| BULK CONTAINER
| 22B0
| BULK CONTAINER
|-----
| rowspan="2" | 22GP
| rowspan="2" | GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
| 22G0
| GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
|-----
| 22G1
| GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
|-----
| 22HR
| INSULATED CONTAINER
| 22H0
| INSULATED CONTAINER
|-----
| rowspan="3" | 22PC
| rowspan="3" | FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
| 22P3
| FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
|-----
| 22P8
| FLAT (COLL.FLUSH FOLDING)
|-----
| 22P9
| FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
|-----
| rowspan="2" | 22PF
| rowspan="2" | FLAT (FIXED ENDS)
| 22P1
| FLAT (FIXED ENDS)
|-----
| 22P7
| FLAT (GENSET CARRIER)
|-----
| 22RC
| REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)
| 22R9
| REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)
|-----
| 22RS
| BUILT-IN GEN. F. POWER SPLY OF REEF
| 22R7
| BUILT-IN GEN. F. POWER SPLY OF REEF
|-----
| 22RT
| REEFER CONTAINER
| 22R1
| REEFER CONTAINER
|-----
| 22SN
| NAMED CARGO CONTAINER
| 22S1
| NAMED CARGO CONTAINER
|-----
| rowspan="4" | 22TD
| rowspan="4" | TANK CONTAINER
| 22T3
| TANK CONTAINER 
|-----
| 22T4
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 22T5
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 22T6
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| rowspan="2" | 22TG
| rowspan="2" | TANK CONTAINER
| 22T7
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 22T8
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| rowspan="3" | 22TN
| rowspan="3" | TANK CONTAINER
| 22T0
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 22T1
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 22T2
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 22UP
| HARDTOP CONTAINER
| 22U6
| HARDTOP CONTAINER
|-----
| 22UT
| OPEN TOP CONTAINER
| 22U1
| OPEN TOP CONTAINER
|-----
| rowspan="3" | 22VH
| rowspan="3" | VENTILATED CONTAINER
| 22V0
| VENTILATED CONTAINER
|-----
| 22V2
| VENTILATED CONTAINER
|-----
| 22V3
| VENTILATED CONTAINER
|-----
| 25GP
| GP-CONTAINER HIGH CUBE
| 25G0
| GP-CONTAINER HIGH CUBE
|-----
| 26GP
| GP-CONTAINER SUPER HIGH CUBE
| 26G0
| GP-CONTAINER SUPER HIGH CUBE
|-----
| 26HR
| INSULATED CONTAINER
| 26H0
| INSULATED CONTAINER
|-----
| 28TG
| TANK FOR GAS
| 28T8
| TANK FOR GAS
|-----
| 28UT
| OPEN TOP (HALF HEIGHT)
| 28U1
| OPEN TOP (HALF HEIGHT)
|-----
| 28VH
| VE-HALF-HEIGHT =1448 MM HEIGHT
| 28V0
| VE-HALF-HEIGHT =1448 MM HEIGHT
|-----
| 29PL
| PLATFORM
| 29P0
| PLATFORM
|-----
| 2EGP
| GEN. PURP. WITHOUT VENT WIDTH 2.5M
| 2EG0
| HIGH CUBE CONT. (WIDTH 2.5M)
|-----
| rowspan="2" | 42GP
| rowspan="2" | GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
| 42G0
| GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
|-----
| 42G1
| GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
|-----
| 42HR
| INSULATED CONTAINER
| 42H0
| INSULATED CONTAINER
|-----
| rowspan="3" | 42PC
| rowspan="3" | FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
| 42P3
| FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
|-----
| 42P8
| FLAT (COLL.FLUSH FOLDING)
|-----
| 42P9
| FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
|-----
| 42PF
| FLAT (FIXED ENDS)
| 42P1
| FLAT (FIXED ENDS)
|-----
| 42PS
| FLAT (SPACE SAVER)
| 42P6
| FLAT SPACE SAVER
|-----
| 42RC
| REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)
| 42R9
| REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)
|-----
| 42RS
| REEFER CONT.(DIESEL GEN.)
| 42R3
| REEFER CONT.(DIESEL GEN.)
|-----
| 42RT
| REEFER CONTAINER
| 42R1
| REEFER CONTAINER
|-----
| 42SN
| NAMED CARGO CONTAINER
| 42S1
| NAMED CARGO CONTAINER
|-----
| rowspan="2" | 42TD
| rowspan="2" | TANK CONTAINER
| 42T5
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 42T6
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 42TG
| TANK CONTAINER
| 42T8
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 42TN
| TANK CONTAINER
| 42T2
| TANK CONTAINER
|-----
| 42UP
| HARDTOP CONTAINER
| 42U6
| HARDTOP CONTAINER
|-----
| 42UT
| OPEN TOP CONTAINER
| 42U1
| OPEN TOP CONTAINER
|-----
| 45BK
| BULK CONTAINER
| 45B3
| BULK CONTAINER
|-----
| rowspan="2" | 45GP
| rowspan="2" | HIGH CUBE CONT.
| 45G0
| HIGH CUBE CONT.
|-----
| 45G1
| HIGH CUBE CONT.
|-----
| rowspan="2" | 45PC
| rowspan="2" | FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
| 45P3
| FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
|-----
| 45P8
| FLAT (COLL.FLUSH FOLDING)
|-----
| 45RC
| REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)
| 45R9
| REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)
|-----
| 45RT
| REEFER HIGHCUBE CONTAINER
| 45R1
| REEFER HIGHCUBE CONTAINER
|-----
| 45UT
| OPEN TOP CONTAINER
| 45U1
| OPEN TOP CONTAINER
|-----
| 45UP
| HIGH CUBE HARDTOP CONT.
| 45U6
| HIGH CUBE HARDTOP CONT.
|-----
| 46HR
| INSULATED CONTAINER
| 46H0
| INSULATED CONTAINER
|-----
| 48TG
| TANK FOR GAS
| 48T8
| TANK FOR GAS
|-----
| 49PL
| PLATFORM
| 49P0
| PLATFORM
|-----
| 4CGP
| GP CONTAINER
| 4CG0
| GP CONTAINER (WIDTH 2.5 M)
|-----
| L0GP
| LOW CUBE CONT.
| L0G1
| LOW CUBE CONT.
|-----
| L2GP
| STANDARD CONT.
| L2G1
| STANDARD CONT.
|-----
| L5GP
| HIGH CUBE CONT.
| L5G1
| HIGH CUBE CONT.
|}

Use the below to calculate size/type of a less commonly used ISO 6346 containers:

{| class="wikitable" 
|- bgcolor="#dfdfdf"
| width="300" colspan="2" align="center" | '''ISO Length Codes''' 
| width="300" colspan="3" align="center" | '''Second size code character''' 
|-----
|- bgcolor="#dfdfdf"
| width="100" align="center" | '''Code'''
| width="200" align="center" | '''Container length'''
| width="100" align="center" | '''Code'''
| width="100" align="center" | '''Container height'''
| width="200" align="center" | '''Width'''
|-----
| 1
| {{cvt|10|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| 0
| {{cvt|8|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| rowspan="7" | {{cvt|8|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
|-----
| 1
| {{cvt|10|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| 2
| {{cvt|8|ft|6|in|mm|0|disp=br()}}
|-----
| 2
| {{cvt|20|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| 2
| {{cvt|8|ft|6|in|mm|0|disp=br()}}
|-----
| 3
| {{cvt|30|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| 4
| {{cvt|9|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
|-----
| 4
| {{cvt|40|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| 5
| {{cvt|9|ft|6|in|mm|0|disp=br()}}
|-----
| B
| {{cvt|24|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| 6
| > {{cvt|9|ft|6|in|mm|0|disp=br()}}
|-----
| C
| {{cvt|24|ft|6|in|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| 8
| {{cvt|4|ft|3|in|mm|0|disp=br()}}
|-----
| G
| {{cvt|41|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| 9
| <= {{cvt|4|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
|
|-----
| H
| {{cvt|43|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| C
| {{cvt|8|ft|6|in|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| rowspan="4" | {{cvt|2438|mm|ft|0|order=flip}} &lt; x ≤ {{cvt|2500|mm|ftin|0|order=flip}}
|-----
| L
| {{cvt|45|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| D
| {{cvt|9|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
|-----
| M
| {{cvt|48|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| E
| {{cvt|9|ft|6|in|mm|0|disp=br()}}
|-----
| N
| {{cvt|49|ft|mm|0|disp=br()}}
| F
| > {{cvt|9|ft|6|in|mm|0|disp=br()}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" 
|- bgcolor="#dfdfdf"
| width="600" colspan="2" align="center" | '''ISO Type Codes''' 
|-----
|- bgcolor="#dfdfdf"
| width="100" align="center" | '''Code'''
| width="500" align="center" | '''Description'''
|-----
| G0
| General - Openings at one or both ends
|-----
| G1
| General - Passive vents at upper part of cargo space
|-----
| G2
| General - Openings at one or both ends + full openings on one or both sides
|-----
| G3
| General - Openings at one or both ends + partial openings on one or both sides
|-----
| V0
| Fantainer - Non-mechanical, vents at lower and upper parts of cargo space
|-----
| V2
| Fantainer - Mechanical ventilation system located internally
|-----
| V4
| Fantainer - Mechanical ventilation system located externally
|-----
| R0
| Integral Reefer - Mechanically refrigerated
|-----
| R1
| Integral Reefer - Mechanically refrigerated and heated
|-----
| R2
| Integral Reefer - Self-powered mechanically refrigerated
|-----
| R3
| Integral Reefer - Self-powered mechanically refrigerated and heated
|-----
| H0
| Refrigerated or heated with removable equipment located externally; heat transfer coefficient K=0.4W/M2.K
|-----
| H1
| Refrigerated or heated with removable equipment located internally
|-----
| H2
| Refrigerated or heated with removable equipment located externally; heat transfer coefficient K=0.7W/M2.K
|-----
| H5
| Insulated - Heat transfer coefficient K=0.4W/M2.K
|-----
| H6
| Insulated - Heat transfer coefficient K=0.7W/M2.K
|-----
| U0
| Open Top - Openings at one or both ends
|-----
| U1
| Open Top - Idem + removable top members in end frames
|-----
| U2
| Open Top - Openings at one or both ends + openings at one or both sides
|-----
| U3
| Open Top - Idem + removable top members in end frames
|-----
| U4
| Open Top - Openings at one or both ends + partial on one and full at other side
|-----
| U5
| Open Top - Complete, fixed side and end walls ( no doors )
|-----
| T0
| Tank - Non-dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 0.45 bar
|-----
| T1
| Tank - Non-dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 1.50 bar
|-----
| T2
| Tank - Non-dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 2.65 bar
|-----
| T3
| Tank - Dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 1.50 bar
|-----
| T4
| Tank - Dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 2.65 bar
|-----
| T5
| Tank - Dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 4.00 bar
|-----
| T6
| Tank - Dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 6.00 bar
|-----
| T7
| Tank - Gases, minimum pressure 9.10 bar
|-----
| T8
| Tank - Gases, minimum pressure 22.00 bar
|-----
| T9
| Tank - Gases, minimum pressure to be decided
|-----
| B0
| Bulk - Closed
|-----
| B1
| Bulk - Airtight
|-----
| B3
| Bulk - Horizontal discharge, test pressure 1.50 bar
|-----
| B4
| Bulk - Horizontal discharge, test pressure 2.65 bar
|-----
| B5
| Bulk - Tipping discharge, test pressure 1.50 bar
|-----
| B6
| Bulk - Tipping discharge, test pressure 2.65 bar
|-----
| P0
| Flat or Bolster - Plain platform
|-----
| P1
| Flat or Bolster - Two complete and fixed ends
|-----
| P2
| Flat or Bolster - Fixed posts, either free-standing or with removable top member
|-----
| P3
| Flat or Bolster - Folding complete end structure
|-----
| P4
| Flat or Bolster - Folding posts, either free-standing or with removable top member
|-----
| P5
| Flat or Bolster - Open top, open ends (skeletal)
|-----
| S0
| Livestock carrier
|-----
| S1
| Automobile carrier
|-----
| S2
| Live fish carrier
|}

==Country code (optional)==
The country code consists of two capital letters of the Latin alphabet as described in [[ISO 3166|ISO 3166-1]]. It indicates the country where the code is registered not the nationality of the owner or operator of the container. The letters of the code shall not be less than {{cvt|100|mm}} high.

==Mandatory operational marks==
Operational marks are intended solely to convey information requested for the movement of containers or give visual warnings. They relate to
*the weight of containers
*a symbol to denote air-surface container
*a sign warning of overhead electrical danger
*height marks for containers higher than {{cvt|8|ft|6|in|mm|order=flip}}

==See also==
* [[Standard Carrier Alpha Code]]
* [[UIC wagon numbers]]
''The following is a list of further freight container related ISO specifications, where not all have an article assigned yet (you can help improve Wikipedia and start one):''
*[[ISO 668]] - Freight containers - Classification, dimensions and ratings
*[[ISO 830]] - Freight containers - Terminology
*[[ISO 1161]] - Freight containers - Corner fittings - Specification
*[[ISO 1496]] - Freight containers - Specification and testing
*[[ISO 2308]] - Hooks for lifting freight containers of up to 30 tons capacity - Basic requirements
*[[ISO 3874]] - Freight containers - Handling and securing
*[[ISO 8323]] - Freight containers - Air/surface (intermodal) general purpose containers - Specification and tests
*[[ISO 9669]] - Freight containers - Interface connections for tank containers
*[[ISO 9711]] - Freight containers - Information related to containers on board vessels
*[[ISO 9897]] - Container equipment data exchange (CEDEX)
*[[ISO 10368]] - Freight thermal containers - Remote condition monitoring
*[[ISO 10374]] - Freight containers - Automatic identification

==References==
;Notes

{{Reflist}}
;Sources
* [https://www.bic-code.org Bureau International des Containers]
* [https://www.containerhandbuch.de/chb_e/stra/stra_03_03_00.html Container Numbering Guide]

==External links==
*[http://www.bic-code.org Bureau International des Containers (BIC)]
*[https://www.bic-code.org/check-digit-calculator/  BIC Check Digit Calculator]
*[https://www.bic-code.org/bic-codes/ BIC Code Identifier]

{{Intermodal containers|state=uncollapsed}}
{{ISO standards}}

[[Category:ISO standards|#06346]]
[[Category:Intermodal containers]]
[[Category:Port infrastructure]]
[[Category:Checksum algorithms]]
[[Category:Encodings]]