Section 4

Question 1

Markings on a container.

Answer 1

1. Owner Code
   
   • 4 letters identifying the owner of the container.
   • Followed by 6 numbers (S/N of the individual unit.)
   • 7th number is the check digit.
2. Country, Size and Type Code
   
   • 2 letter country code
   • Followed by a 4 digit character code.
   • 1st digit indicates length.
   • 2nd digit indicates height and width
   • 2nd 2 numbers denote the type of container of any special characteristics.
3. Container Weights
   
   • Max. weight of ther container in both metric and imperial units.
   • Max. gross and tare weight.
   • Net weight and internal cubic masurement.

Question 2

Identifying containers within the bay plan.

Answer 2

20’ Container is odd bay number.
40’ Container is even bay number.

Vertical stacks of containers in bays are loacted in cells and the height of the container in a particular cell is defined by tier.

Cell numbers run from the vessels fore and aft centre line to the ships side and follow the traditional format of even numbers to port and odd no. to stbd.

Tier heights are always enumerated from bottom to top and always with even no. Thus, the below dek tiers will run 02-04-06-08-10 etc. with 02 bay on the tank top and 10 being the top height container.

On deck all the heights are preferred with an ‘8’ and run in the same format as 82-84-86-88 with height 82 being the lowest box on deck and 88 being the fourth height box.

Question 3

CSC plate in detail (Draw)

Answer 3

Line 1: Country of approval and approval reference number for the series of container.

Line 2: Month and year of manufacture of the container.

Line 3: Manufacturer’s identification number of the container. (This need not be the same as the owner’s
identification number but there must be some record kept, correlating both numbers.)

Line 4: Maximum operating gross weight in kg and lbs.

Line 5: Allowable stacking weight of the container. The unit type must be proof tested to 1.8 times the
permitted stack weight to allow for the lifting and slamming forces inflicted during sea transport.

Line 6: The transverse racking strength of the container. This is the actual test load placed on a unit of
the same series.

Line 7: The end-wall strength of the unit if any different from the standard of 0.4 of the maximum
payload.

Line 8: The side-wall strength of the unit if any different from the standard 0.6 of the maximum payload.

Line 9: The month and year of the examinations required under PES, or just the letters AECP followed by
the approval authority if the unit is to be continuously examined.

Question 4

What is the stacking weight of a container?

Answer 4

The maximum weight of containers that can be kept on the same slot.

Question 5

Container examination program (2 methods)

Answer 5

The Periodic Examination Scheme (PES):
The PES programme is a formal series of regulated inspections often designated to a
classification society where a container is examined 5 years after manufacture and at intervals
of 30 months thereafter.

Approved Continuous Examination Programme (ACEP)
The ACEP programme allows the container owner to undertake continuous inspections during
service, which normally occur at the company’s container yard. Empty containers are returned
to the yard, being washed and inspected by responsible personnel before dispatching for the
next load.