Overweight Marking
According to ISO regulations, any container with a Maximum Gross Weight (MGW) exceeding 30,480 kg is classified as an overweight container and must display a triangular overweight marking on the exterior. This marking consists of a black-bordered triangle with the words “SUPERHEAVY” printed in black English text on a yellow background.
Intermodal Container Marking:
This mark identifies containers suitable for air transport that can be used in intermodal transport with ground transport (such as road, rail, or water). Although these containers are similar to standard maritime shipping containers, there are certain differences in their structural features. For example, these containers are designed for only two-high stacking, have washable container floors, and feature top and bottom corner fittings.
Therefore, to distinguish them from other international standard containers, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has established a special marking for these containers. This marking is black, located in the upper-left corner of the side and end walls, with minimum dimensions specified as: 127 mm in height and 355 mm in length, and a minimum letter height of 76 mm.
Warning Marking for Electric Shock Hazard on Container Roofs:
This marking consists of a yellow-background triangle, typically placed on tank containers and near the ladder leading to the roof, to warn climbers of the risk of electric shock.
International Union of Railways (UIC) Mark:
The UIC Regulations contain many specific technical requirements for containers. Containers that meet these requirements are granted the “UIC” mark, indicating that the container has been recognized by all UIC member states. This mark is also an essential pass for transporting containers on European railways.
The “IC” in the upper part of the mark stands for the International Union of Railways, while the numbers in the lower part represent the UIC member codes of each country. The IC mark on a container indicates which country’s UIC certification the container has applied for; for example, the IC mark shown in the figure below indicates that the container was certified in France.
In addition to the identification marks and operational labels mentioned above, transit marks are also quite important. For a container to smoothly pass through or enter the borders of another country during transport, the container must be affixed with various transit markings as required by regulations. These primarily include: the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), the Safety Approval Plate, the Container Approval Plate, the Inspection Approval Mark, and the Fumigation Plate. Most transit markings are etched onto the container nameplate, as shown in the figure below, and the nameplate is generally installed in a prominent position at the lower left corner of the container door.
CSC Safety Approval Plate
CSC stands for the International Convention for Safe Containers. In accordance with the provisions of the Appendix to this Annex, the CSC Safety Approval Plate is generally etched onto the container nameplate.
CCC Customs Clearance Certificate
CCC stands for the International Convention on Customs Matters for Containers. This convention requires contracting parties to issue a customs approval certificate to newly manufactured containers that meet technical standards, allowing them to transport goods internationally under customs seals. Contracting parties grant such containers temporary import status, exempting them from customs duties or security deposits.
TCT Certification
TCT stands for Timber Conservation Treatment. A TCT certification plate refers to a timber treatment certificate recognized under the Department of Industry, Energy, and Resources’ “Container Quarantine Inspection Procedures” in Australia. Such requirements are common in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
Class Society Certification
This certification indicates that the container complies with the class society’s container inspection standards and relevant requirements. Class society markings vary by country, including certification from the China Classification Society (CCS), Bureau Veritas (BV), American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Lloyd’s Register (LR), and Germanischer Lloyd (GL).