Conditions

Decoding Shipping Container Conditions, Grades, and Selection Choices

When deciding to invest in a shipping container, it becomes pivotal to possess a comprehensive grasp of the nuances among container conditions and grades. This comprehension is key to selecting a container that precisely aligns with your distinct requirements.

Three predominant container conditions demand consideration: Used, One Trip, and Refurbished. These conditions, in turn, feature distinct grades, offering valuable insights into the container’s overall condition and structural soundness. It’s imperative to recognize that the condition and grade directly influence the container’s pricing.

Shipping Container Conditions

Our top choice among containers, the widely favored used general-purpose containers, boasts a robust service history of 5 to 15 years in heavy-duty shipping before reaching retirement.

These used containers typically retain their original paint and shipping line markings, showcasing the signs of their journey with visible wear and tear, including surface rust, dents, and scratches.

While the exterior and interior may not present a pristine appearance, the structural integrity of used shipping containers remains steadfast, contingent upon their respective grades. Some may still prove suitable for cargo transportation, storage solutions, and various applications despite their weathered exterior.

Fresh from their inaugural ocean voyage, New One Trip shipping containers may exhibit minor dents, dings, and scrapes—a testament to the rigors of regular shipping and handling during their lengthy ocean journey.

Manufactured in Asia and subsequently transported to our global depots, these new containers undergo a unique approach to cost reduction. To streamline shipping expenses and offer our customers competitive prices, these containers are loaded with cargo just once. This strategic measure not only offsets re-positioning costs but also allows us to pass on substantial savings to our valued customers.

An “As Is” container is one that has undergone inspection and, due to severe damage, is deemed too costly to repair to achieve Wind and Watertight status.

These containers exhibit both external and internal issues, ranging from holes to broken flooring and other structural concerns. Our general advice is not to recommend the purchase of an “As Is” container unless it is intended for a specific purpose where structural soundness and exterior condition are not critical requirements.

Leading the popularity charts, Wind and Water Tight (WWT) containers represent a widely sought-after grade, providing the assurance of a leak-free shipping container.

While these containers guarantee a waterproof seal, the visual aesthetics may bear the marks of their robust service history. Expect original paint, surface rust, dents, and abrasions—testaments to their extensive use in heavy-duty shipping services. Despite the external ruggedness, rest assured that the structural integrity remains intact, making WWT containers a reliable choice for various applications.

An IICL container surpasses stringent inspection standards established by the Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL), making it an esteemed choice for export.

Distinguished by impeccable condition, IICL containers command a higher book value. Their external appearance stands out, presenting a much more polished and refined look compared to a Wind and Water Tight (WWT) container. This superior condition aligns with the elevated standards set by the IICL, ensuring reliability and excellence for international shipments.

Earning the designation of “Cargo Worthy,” these shipping containers undergo a rigorous inspection, ensuring they meet the criteria for structural integrity and safety for international transportation via sea, rail, and road.

Externally, these containers retain their original paint (with color variations), old shipping markings, surface rust, abrasions, and dents—a testament to their previous journeys. For those seeking containers for export, it’s essential to note that a container survey and a valid CSC inspection sticker are prerequisites, ensuring compliance with international standards for secure and reliable shipping.

Revitalizing Wind and Water Tight (WWT) containers, refurbished containers undergo a transformative process involving preparation, priming, and repainting. This refurbishment not only breathes new life into a shipping container but also extends its overall lifespan. Our refurbishment services offer three distinct levels for Used Wind and Water Tight containers:

Typical Refurbishment: The focus is on exterior repainting. The container exterior undergoes thorough preparation, including wire wheeling to remove loose rust, spot priming exposed metal, and painting the exterior, including the roof. This process often involves painting over locking rods, gaskets, and decals.
Complete Refurbishment: Similar to Typical Refurbishment, this level extends the process to include painting the container’s interior, providing a comprehensive makeover.
Factory Refurbishment: Representing a comprehensive overhaul, this level involves new interior and exterior paint, new gaskets, and the addition of new container markings, ensuring a fully rejuvenated appearance.

Used shipping containers undergo a rigorous inspection and grading process, considering factors such as age, structural soundness, exterior and interior condition, mileage, damage and repair history, and the weather conditions during storage and shipping. The resulting grades guide customers in their search for the ideal container and typically include: