1) Container Number – It is an alpha numeric sequence made up of 4 Alphabets and 7 Numbers. The container number identification system has been created by the International Standards Organization under their code IS06346:1995(E). As per this code, the container identification system consists of: –
a) Owner code –The owner prefix refers to the first three capital letters in the sequence. Three (3) letters for example (in this example ECM)
b) Equipment category – The equipment category identifier is the fourth letter in this alphanumeric sequence. One (1) letter (in our example, U denoting a freight container. Other categories being J for detachable container related equipment (such as Genset) and Z for trailers and chassis).
c) Serial number – 6 numbers (numbers ONLY)
d) Check Digit – 1 number (numbers ONLY)

2) Check Digit – It is part of the full container number. The check digit is an important number as it can be used to identify if the above-mentioned identification sequence is valid or invalid. For example, if you go to BIC’s Check Digit Calculator and type in the prefix – ECMU and the numbers 465749, see what you get as the Check Digit. It should come up as six (“6”).

3) Container Owner or Lessor – This is the entity that owns or operates the container. This could be a shipping line, like in this example (CMA CGM Group) or a container leasing company such as Seaco whose business is to lease containers to shipping lines that need to increase their inventory but not their assets.

4) Max Gross – In this example – 30,480 Kgs is the maximum weight that the container can carry including its own tare weight of 3,720 kg or 8,200 LB. This is the weight that the SOLAS VGM Certificate must show.

5) ISO Code – As per the International Standards Organization under their code IS06346:1995(E), each container is given a unique ISO Code in order to avoid any ambiguity in naming the container. For example, a standard 20′ container is called Dry Van (DV), General Purpose (GP), Standard (SD), Normal, Dry Container (DC) in different countries.