Engineering reference
Glossary
The full vocabulary of container hardware used in this catalogue. A concise version appears in the front matter.
Terms
| Aperture | An opening in a corner casting that accepts a twistlock, lug or shackle. |
|---|---|
| Automatic twistlock | A twistlock that locks on landing and is released manually; speeds vessel and yard stacking. |
| Bridge fitting | A clamp linking the tops or bottoms of two side-by-side containers; also bridge clamp. |
| Corner casting | The cast-steel fitting at each of a container's eight corners (ISO 1161). |
| Corner fitting | See corner casting. |
| Corner post | The vertical structural column at each container corner, carrying stacking and racking loads. |
| Corten steel | Weathering steel used for container structures; forms a protective surface patina. |
| CSC plate | The safety-approval plate fitted to a container under the CSC Convention. |
| Dovetail | A tapered socket or foundation that locates and retains a twistlock on a trailer or slab. |
| Flat rack | A container with collapsible or fixed ends and no sides, for over-dimension loads. |
| GP | General Purpose container; standard 2.59 m external height. |
| Gross mass (max) | The maximum permitted combined weight of a container and its contents. |
| HC | High Cube container; 2.90 m external height. |
| ISO 668 | Standard defining container external and internal dimensions and ratings. |
| ISO 1161 | Standard defining corner-casting dimensions and apertures. |
| ISO 1496 | Standard defining container test loads and structural strength. |
| Lashing | Restraining containers or cargo with bars, chains, rods or turnbuckles. |
| Lock rod | The vertical bar and cam mechanism that locks a container door to the frame. |
| MBL | Minimum Breaking Load — see Units & Load Terminology. |
| Payload | The cargo weight a container can carry: max gross mass minus tare. |
| Proof load | A non-destructive test load above SWL, below MBL. |
| Racking load | The horizontal force a container structure resists, e.g. from ship motion or wind. |
| Reefer | A refrigerated, temperature-controlled container. |
| Semi-automatic twistlock | A twistlock that engages on landing and releases by pull-wire; common marine lashing gear. |
| Shackle | A U-shaped connector closed by a pin, used to join lifting or lashing components. |
| Stacking cone | A locating cone set between stacked containers to align corner castings. |
| Stacking load | The vertical load a corner casting carries from containers stacked above (ISO 1496-1). |
| SWL | Safe Working Load — see Units & Load Terminology. |
| Tare mass | The empty weight of a container. |
| TEU | Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit; one 20-ft container. A 40-ft container is 2 TEU. |
| Turnbuckle | An adjustable tensioning device in a lashing system. |
| Twistlock | A rotating-cone fitting that locks into a corner casting to connect or secure containers. |
| WLL | Working Load Limit — see Units & Load Terminology. |