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Unit Aims, Objectives and Prerequisites
C.3.1 - Container construction

1. Unit Aims

This Unit is designed to:

1. Describe the nature, design and basic structure of a general purpose marine freight container.
2. Name the materials from which containers are constructed, explain their advantages, disadvantages and main uses, and indicate how they can be recognized.
3. Explain the dimensional and operational specifications of standard containers.
4. Explain how containers are tested, approved and certificated.
5. Describe the range of container types based on ISO standards.

2. Unit Objectives

After completing this Unit, the learner will be able to:

1. Explain what is generally understood by the term ‘freight container’, and describe its main features, functions and benefits.
2. Explain why international standards are necessary for the dimensions and other specifications of freight containers, and list the standard lengths, heights and widths of ISO-defined containers.
3. Describe the basic form, and name and describe the component parts of, a general purpose freight container.
4. Name the three materials from which freight containers are constructed, state the advantages and disadvantages of each type, and explain the particular uses to which they are best suited.
5. State how containers constructed from different materials can be distinguished from the outside, and recognize them correctly on sight.
6. List the seven categories of operational specifications defined by the ISO for freight containers, and outline the related tests that are carried out to certify that a container has met those requirements.
7. Name and describe the three major categories of freight containers, name and describe the main classes and types within those categories, and correctly identify all types of container by their appearance and characteristics.
8. Define, recognize the best definition of, or distinguish between true and false statements concerning, the technical terms used in the Unit, as listed in sections 3 and 4 below.

3. Unit Prerequisites

It is assumed that trainees will, before starting this Unit, have completed successfully the following Unit or will have demonstrated (for example by successfully completing the Unit Test) their understanding of the topics covered by it:

• Container terminal operations (C.1.1).