Markings on Containers

The current standard which deals with the coding, identification and marking of containers is DIN EN ISO 6346, dated January 1996. Among other things, this standard specifies that the previous standards with similar content have equal validity, since a number of older versions of containers with different markings naturally remain in service alongside the brand new ones.

The foreword to the standard states, among other things, that it includes not only the statutory units but also corresponding sizes stated in Anglo-American units. Under the German Units of Measurement Act, 22nd February 1985, the use of such units nationally and commercially in Germany is prescribed. Such units may only be quoted to aid business relationships with countries which still use these units.

Marking on the door of a container

A distinction is drawn between compulsory and optional marking. Compulsory ISO marking must be used on all containers, while optional marking does not have to be: they are included in the standard to improve understanding and to promote uniform application of marking. However, if a particular style of representation is specified for an optional mark, it must be complied with. The terms “compulsory” and “optional” used in the standard do not apply to the requirements of any legislative bodies, however.

The following is a basic version of horizontal container marking,

Container identification marking

This Figure shows a version of vertical container marking. Marking is there on the front end of a container. The container identification system specified in DIN EN ISO 6346 consists solely of the elements shown, which can only be used together.

• owner code, consisting of three capital letters
• product group code, consisting of one of capital letters U, J or Z
• six-digit registration number
• check digit

The owner code must be unique and registered with the International Container Bureau in the Figures shown, the owner code consists respectively of the letter combinations SUD and TEX. The product group code consists of one of the following three capital letters:

• U – for all freight containers
• J – for detachable freight container-related equipment
• Z – for trailers and chassis

The term owner code may also apply to the combination of owner code and product group code, which is also known as an alpha prefix. If the owner code is absent, the container cannot be identified. The registration or serial number consists of six digits. In the examples shown, these numbers are 307007 and 452149. If the container number consists of fewer than six digits, it is preceded by enough zeros to make a six-digit number sequence. The check digit, 9 and 6 respectively in the two examples shown, is always a single-digit number. It is usually in a box, to make it stand out from the registration number.

The check digit can be used to validate whether the owner code, product group code and registration number have been accurately transmitted. No freight information system (FIS), transport information system (TIS) or similar data processing system will accept a container number, if the result of the automatic checking procedure does not show agreement with the check digit. The procedure is deliberately designed to ensure that a number of transmission errors cannot cancel one another out, resulting in the acceptance of incorrect data