ISO 6346

BIC code on the end of a shipping container

ISO-code and dimension/load table at several newly washed containers

ISO 6346 is an international standard covering the coding, identification and marking of intermodal (shipping) containers used within containerized intermodal freight transport. The standard establishes a visual identification system for every container that includes a unique serial number (with check digit), the owner, a country code, a size, type and equipment category as well as any operational marks. The standard is managed by the International Container Bureau (BIC).

Identification System

Example of an ISO 6346 conform container number:

Owner Code

The owner code consists of three capital letters of the Latin alphabet to indicate the owner or principal operator of the container. Such code needs to be registered at the Bureau International des Conteneurs in Paris to ensure uniqueness worldwide.

Equipment Category Identifier

The equipment category identifier consists of one of the following capital letters of the Latin alphabet:

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

Under the ISO code, then, only U, J, and Z are in use—the reefer container is identified by means of the size type code.

Serial Number

The serial number consists of 6 numeric digits, assigned by the owner or operator, uniquely identifying the container within that owner/operator's fleet.

Check Digit

The check digit consists of one numeric digit providing a means of validating the recording and transmission accuracies of the owner code and serial number.

Conversion Algorithm

To compute the check digit, the letters have to be converted to numbers. This is done in three steps:

Calculation Step 1

An equivalent numerical value is assigned to each letter of the alphabet, beginning with 10 for the letter A (11 and multiples thereof are omitted):

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M
10	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	23	24

N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	34	35	36	37	38

The individual digits of the serial number keep their numeric value.

Calculation Step 2

Each of the numbers calculated in step 1 is multiplied by 2^position, where position is the exponent to base 2. Position starts at 0, from left to right.

The following table shows the multiplication factors:

1. nbr	2. nbr	3. nbr	4. nbr	5. nbr	6. nbr	7. nbr	8. nbr	9. nbr	10. nbr
2⁰	2¹	2²	2³	2⁴	2⁵	2⁶	2⁷	2⁸	2⁹
1	2	4	8	16	32	64	128	256	512

Calculation Step 3

Sum up all results of Step 2
Divide them by 11
Round the result down to zero i.e. make the result a whole number (integer)
Multiply the integer value by 11
Subtract result of (iv) from result of (i): This is the check digit.

If the final difference is 10, then the check digit becomes 0. To ensure that this does not happen, the standard recommends that serial numbers should not be used which produce a final difference of 10; however, there are containers in the market which do not follow this recommendation, so handling this case has to be included if a check digit calculator is programmed.

Notice that step (ii) to (v) is a calculation of the remainder found after division of (i) by 11. Most programming languages have a modulo operator for this. Attention should be paid on how it is working in the language chosen; i. e. if it is giving back the decimal rest or the integer rest in order to get proper results. 11 is used as divisor because a container number has 11 letters and digits in total. In step 1 the numbers 11, 22 and 33 are left out as they are multiples of the divisor.

Example

	C	S	Q	U	3	0	5	4	3	8	Calc.
	13	30	28	32	3	0	5	4	3	8
×	1	2	4	8	16	32	64	128	256	512
	13	60	112	256	48	0	320	512	768	4096	6185 [a]
b) Division by 11:											562.272...
c) Erase decimal digits:											562
d) Multiply by 11:											6182
a) minus d) = Check Digit:											3

Code Samples

The following are the algorithm in various programming languages:

Code Sample (Matlab)

Below is a code Snippet implementing the above algorithm in MATLAB validating string "cid":

%% Step 1 
char2num = [10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 35 36 37 38]; 
msk = logical([1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0]);  % mask separating digits from numbers
cid( msk) = char2num(cid( msk)-'A'+1);   % letters to numbers conversion
cid(~msk) =          cid(~msk)-'1'+1;    % digit characters to numbers conversion
vec = double(cid);
%% Step 2
num  = sum(vec(1:10).* 2.^(0:9));
%% Step 3
check_digit = mod(mod(num,11),10);
valid = (check_digit==vec(11));

Code Sample (DELPHİ or pascal)

function knt(x: String): Boolean;
var
dizi:Array ['A'..'Z'] of Integer;
acc,ax:Extended;
i,remx,s:integer;
z:Boolean;
begin
z:=False;
dizi['A']:=10; dizi['B']:=12; dizi['C']:=13; dizi['D']:=14; dizi['E']:=15; dizi['F']:=16;
dizi['G']:=17; dizi['H']:=18; dizi['I']:=19; dizi['J']:=20; dizi['K']:=21; dizi['L']:=23;
dizi['M']:=24; dizi['N']:=25; dizi['O']:=26; dizi['P']:=27; dizi['Q']:=28; dizi['R']:=29;
dizi['S']:=30; dizi['T']:=31; dizi['U']:=32; dizi['V']:=34; dizi['W']:=35; dizi['X']:=36;
dizi['Y']:=37; dizi['Z']:=38;
acc:=0;
s:=0;
for i :=1  to 10  do
begin
s:=s*2;if s<1 then s:=1;
  if i<5 then
    ax:=(dizi[x[i]]*s)
  else
    ax:=(StrToInt(x[i])*s);
acc:=acc+ax;
end;
remx:=(Floor(acc) mod 11) mod 10;
if (Length(x)=11) and (remx=StrToInt(x[11])) then
z:=True;
Result:= z;
end;

Code Sample (Visual Basic)

Below is the Visual Basic (VBA) code to create a custom "ISO6346Check" function in Microsoft Excel (Alt + F11) that returns the correct check digit:

Function ISO6346Check(k As String) ' Calculates the ISO Shipping Container Check Digit
Dim i%, s&
Application.Volatile
For i = 1 To 10
s = s + IIf(i < 5, Fix(11 * (Asc(Mid(k, i)) - 56) / 10) + 1, Asc(Mid(k, i)) - 48) * 2 ^ (i - 1)
Next i
ISO6346Check = (s - Fix(s / 11) * 11) Mod 10
End Function

Code Sample (Python)

Below is Python (2.7) code to validate the string "cid":

>>> cid = 'CSQU3054383'
>>> first10 = cid[0:-1]
>>> check = cid[-1]
>>> char2num = {
...     '0': 0, '1': 1, '2': 2, '3': 3, '4': 4, '5': 5, '6': 6, '7': 7, '8': 8,
...     '9': 9, 'A': 10, 'B': 12, 'C': 13, 'D': 14, 'E': 15, 'F': 16, 'G': 17,
...     'H': 18, 'I': 19, 'J': 20, 'K': 21, 'L': 23, 'M': 24, 'N': 25, 'O': 26,
...     'P': 27, 'Q': 28, 'R': 29, 'S': 30, 'T': 31, 'U': 32, 'V': 34, 'W': 35,
...     'X': 36, 'Y': 37, 'Z': 38,
... }
>>> total = sum(char2num[c] * 2**x for x, c in enumerate(first10))
>>> (total % 11) % 10 == char2num[check]
True

Code Sample (Javascript)

Below is the Javascript code to create a custom "ISO6346Check":

function ISO6346Check(con) {
    if (!con || con == "" || con.length != 11) { return false; }
    con = con.toUpperCase();
    var re = /^[A-Z]{4}\d{7}/;
    if (re.test(con)) {
        var sum = 0;
        for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
            var n = con.substr(i, 1);
            if (i < 4) {
                n = "0123456789A?BCDEFGHIJK?LMNOPQRSTU?VWXYZ".indexOf(con.substr(i, 1));
            }
            n *= Math.pow(2, i); //2的i次方
            sum += n;
        }
        if (con.substr(0, 4) == "HLCU") {
            sum -= 2;
        }
        sum %= 11;
        sum %= 10; //余数为10的取0
        return sum == con.substr(10);
    } else {
        return false; //不匹配正则表达式   
    }
}

Code Sample (Excel)

Below is an Excel Formula to validate container number in Cell A1

=IF(LEN(A1)=11,IF((MID(A1,11,1)*1)=(1*SUBSTITUTE((IF(MID(A1,1,1)="A",10,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="B",12,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="C",13,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="D",14,
IF(MID(A1,1,1)="E",15,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="F",16,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="G",17,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="H",18,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="I",19,
IF(MID(A1,1,1)="J",20,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="K",21,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="L",23,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="M",24,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="N",25,
IF(MID(A1,1,1)="O",26,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="P",27,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="Q",28,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="R",29,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="S",30,
IF(MID(A1,1,1)="T",31,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="U",32,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="V",34,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="W",35,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="X",36,
IF(MID(A1,1,1)="Y",37,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="Z",38,FALSE)))))))))))))))))))))))))))+
(IF(MID(A1,2,1)="A",10,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="B",12,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="C",13,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="D",14,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="E",15,
IF(MID(A1,2,1)="F",16,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="G",17,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="H",18,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="I",19,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="J",20,
IF(MID(A1,2,1)="K",21,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="L",23,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="M",24,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="N",25,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="O",26,
IF(MID(A1,2,1)="P",27,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="Q",28,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="R",29,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="S",30,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="T",31,
IF(MID(A1,2,1)="U",32,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="V",34,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="W",35,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="X",36,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="Y",37,
IF(MID(A1,2,1)="Z",38,FALSE))))))))))))))))))))))))))*2)+(IF(MID(A1,3,1)="A",10,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="B",12,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="C",13,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="D",14,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="E",15,
IF(MID(A1,3,1)="F",16,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="G",17,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="H",18,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="I",19,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="J",20,
IF(MID(A1,3,1)="K",21,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="L",23,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="M",24,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="N",25,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="O",26,
IF(MID(A1,3,1)="P",27,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="Q",28,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="R",29,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="S",30,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="T",31,
IF(MID(A1,3,1)="U",32,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="V",34,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="W",35,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="X",36,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="Y",37,
IF(MID(A1,3,1)="Z",38,FALSE))))))))))))))))))))))))))*4)+(IF(MID(A1,4,1)="A",10,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="B",12,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="C",13,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="D",14,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="E",15,
IF(MID(A1,4,1)="F",16,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="G",17,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="H",18,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="I",19,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="J",20,
IF(MID(A1,4,1)="K",21,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="L",23,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="M",24,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="N",25,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="O",26,
IF(MID(A1,4,1)="P",27,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="Q",28,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="R",29,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="S",30,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="T",31,
IF(MID(A1,4,1)="U",32,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="V",34,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="W",35,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="X",36,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="Y",37,
IF(MID(A1,4,1)="Z",38,FALSE))))))))))))))))))))))))))*8)+(MID(A1,5,1)*16)+(MID(A1,6,1)*32)+(MID(A1,7,1)*64)+(MID(A1,8,1)*128)+(MID(A1,9,1)*256)+(MID(A1,10,1)*512)-11*ROUNDDOWN((((IF(MID(A1,1,1)="A",10,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="B",12,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="C",13,
IF(MID(A1,1,1)="D",14,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="E",15,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="F",16,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="G",17,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="H",18,
IF(MID(A1,1,1)="I",19,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="J",20,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="K",21,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="L",23,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="M",24,
IF(MID(A1,1,1)="N",25,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="O",26,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="P",27,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="Q",28,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="R",29,
IF(MID(A1,1,1)="S",30,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="T",31,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="U",32,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="V",34,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="W",35,
IF(MID(A1,1,1)="X",36,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="Y",37,IF(MID(A1,1,1)="Z",38,FALSE)))))))))))))))))))))))))))+(IF(MID(A1,2,1)="A",10,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="B",12,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="C",13,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="D",14,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="E",15,
IF(MID(A1,2,1)="F",16,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="G",17,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="H",18,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="I",19,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="J",20,
IF(MID(A1,2,1)="K",21,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="L",23,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="M",24,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="N",25,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="O",26,
IF(MID(A1,2,1)="P",27,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="Q",28,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="R",29,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="S",30,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="T",31,
IF(MID(A1,2,1)="U",32,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="V",34,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="W",35,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="X",36,IF(MID(A1,2,1)="Y",37,
IF(MID(A1,2,1)="Z",38,FALSE))))))))))))))))))))))))))*2)+(IF(MID(A1,3,1)="A",10,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="B",12,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="C",13,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="D",14,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="E",15,
IF(MID(A1,3,1)="F",16,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="G",17,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="H",18,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="I",19,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="J",20,
IF(MID(A1,3,1)="K",21,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="L",23,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="M",24,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="N",25,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="O",26,
IF(MID(A1,3,1)="P",27,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="Q",28,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="R",29,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="S",30,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="T",31,
IF(MID(A1,3,1)="U",32,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="V",34,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="W",35,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="X",36,IF(MID(A1,3,1)="Y",37,
IF(MID(A1,3,1)="Z",38,FALSE))))))))))))))))))))))))))*4)+(IF(MID(A1,4,1)="A",10,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="B",12,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="C",13,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="D",14,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="E",15,
IF(MID(A1,4,1)="F",16,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="G",17,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="H",18,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="I",19,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="J",20,
IF(MID(A1,4,1)="K",21,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="L",23,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="M",24,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="N",25,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="O",26,
IF(MID(A1,4,1)="P",27,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="Q",28,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="R",29,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="S",30,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="T",31,
IF(MID(A1,4,1)="U",32,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="V",34,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="W",35,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="X",36,IF(MID(A1,4,1)="Y",37,
IF(MID(A1,4,1)="Z",38,FALSE))))))))))))))))))))))))))*8)+(MID(A1,5,1)*16)+(MID(A1,6,1)*32)+(MID(A1,7,1)*64)+(MID(A1,8,1)*128)+(MID(A1,9,1)*256)+(MID(A1,10,1)*512))/11),0),10,0)),"VALID","INVALID"),"INVALID")

Below is a shorter Excel formula for the same function (container number in cell A1):

=IF(LEN(A1)=11,IF((MID(A1,11,1)*1)=MOD(IF(PROPER(MID(A1,1,1))="A",10,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,1,1))>65,CODE(MID(A1,1,1))<=75),CODE(MID(A1,1,1))-54,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,1,1))>75,CODE(MID(A1,1,1))<=85),CODE(MID(A1,1,1))-53,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,1,1))>85,CODE(MID(A1,1,1))<=90),CODE(MID(A1,1,1))-52,MID(A1,1,1)))))*1+IF(PROPER(MID(A1,2,1))="A",10,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,2,1))>65,CODE(MID(A1,2,1))<=75),CODE(MID(A1,2,1))-54,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,2,1))>75,CODE(MID(A1,2,1))<=85),CODE(MID(A1,2,1))-53,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,2,1))>85,CODE(MID(A1,2,1))<=90),CODE(MID(A1,2,1))-52,MID(A1,2,1)))))*2+IF(PROPER(MID(A1,3,1))="A",10,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,3,1))>65,CODE(MID(A1,3,1))<=75),CODE(MID(A1,3,1))-54,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,3,1))>75,CODE(MID(A1,3,1))<=85),CODE(MID(A1,3,1))-53,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,3,1))>85,CODE(MID(A1,3,1))<=90),CODE(MID(A1,3,1))-52,MID(A1,3,1)))))*4+IF(PROPER(MID(A1,4,1))="A",10,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,4,1))>65,CODE(MID(A1,4,1))<=75),CODE(MID(A1,4,1))-54,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,4,1))>75,CODE(MID(A1,4,1))<=85),CODE(MID(A1,4,1))-53,IF(AND(CODE(MID(A1,4,1))>85,CODE(MID(A1,4,1))<=90),CODE(MID(A1,4,1))-52,MID(A1,4,1)))))*8+MID(A1,5,1)*16+MID(A1,6,1)*32+MID(A1,7,1)*64+MID(A1,8,1)*128+MID(A1,9,1)*256+MID(A1,10,1)*512,11),"VALID","INVALID"),"INVALID")

Code Sample (PHP)

Below is the PHP code to validate a container number:

function checkDigit($mark){
    $char2num = ['A'=>10, 'B'=>12, 'C'=>13, 'D'=>14, 'E'=>15, 'F'=>16, 'G'=>17, 'H'=>18, 'I'=>19, 'J'=>20, 'K'=>21, 'L'=>23, 'M'=>24, 'N'=>25, 'O'=>26, 'P'=>27, 'Q'=>28, 'R'=>29, 'S'=>30, 'T'=>31, 'U'=>32, 'V'=>34, 'W'=>35, 'X'=>36, 'Y'=>37, 'Z'=>38];

    $acc=0;
    $num=str_split($mark);
    for($i=0;$i<10;$i++){
        if($i<4) $acc+=($char2num[$num[$i]]*pow(2,$i));
        else $acc+=$num[$i]*pow(2,$i);
    }
    $rem = $acc % 11;
    if ($rem == 10) $rem = 0;
    if(strlen($mark)==11 && $num[10]==$rem) return true;
    return false;
}

Code Sample (Java)

Below is the Java code do validate a container number:

public static boolean isContainerNumberValid(String pCid){
    if(pCid == null || pCid.length() != 11){
        return false;
    }
    String char2num = "0123456789A?BCDEFGHIJK?LMNOPQRSTU?VWXYZ";
    int sum = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
        int n = (char2num.indexOf(pCid.charAt(i)));
        n *= Math.pow(2, i);
        sum += n;
    }
    int rem = (sum % 11) % 10;
    return char2num.indexOf(pCid.charAt(10)) == rem;
}

Code Sample (Visual FoxPro)

Below is a VFP codesample, adopted from the above VB sample

FUNCTION ISO6346Check(cTest AS STRING)
	LOCAL i, nResult
	nResult = 0
	
	FOR i = 1 TO 10
		nResult = nResult + IIF(i < 5, FLOOR(11 * (ASC( SUBSTR(cTest,i,1)) - 56) / 10) + 1, ASC( SUBSTR(cTest,i,1)) - 48) * 2 ^ (i - 1)
	ENDFOR
	
	RETURN (nResult - FLOOR(nResult / 11) * 11) % 10

ENDFUNC

Code Sample (Eiffel)

Below is an Eiffel code sample.

	check_digit: CHARACTER
		note

		local
			l_d1, l_d2, l_d3, l_d4, l_d5, l_d6, l_d7, l_d8, l_d9, l_d10,
			l_sum1,
			l_sum2: INTEGER
			l_div_by_11: REAL_64
		do
			l_d1 := conversion_hash.at (owner_code [1]) * 1
			l_d2 := conversion_hash.at (owner_code [2]) * 2
			l_d3 := conversion_hash.at (owner_code [3]) * 4
			l_d4 := conversion_hash.at (equipment_category_id) * 8
			l_d5 := serial_number [1].out.to_integer * 16
			l_d6 := serial_number [2].out.to_integer * 32
			l_d7 := serial_number [3].out.to_integer * 64
			l_d8 := serial_number [4].out.to_integer * 128
			l_d9 := serial_number [5].out.to_integer * 256
			l_d10 := serial_number [6].out.to_integer * 512
			l_sum1 := l_d1 + l_d2 + l_d3 + l_d4 + l_d5 + l_d6 + l_d7 + l_d8 + l_d9 + l_d10
			l_div_by_11 := l_sum1 / 11
			l_sum2 := l_div_by_11.truncated_to_integer
			Result := (l_sum1 - (l_sum2 * 11)).out [1]
		end

	conversion_hash: HASH_TABLE [INTEGER, CHARACTER]
		once
			create Result.make (26)
			Result.force (10, 'A')
			Result.force (12, 'B')
			Result.force (13, 'C')
			Result.force (14, 'D')
			Result.force (15, 'E')
			Result.force (16, 'F')
			Result.force (17, 'G')
			Result.force (18, 'H')
			Result.force (19, 'I')
			Result.force (30, 'J')
			Result.force (21, 'K')
			Result.force (23, 'L')
			Result.force (24, 'M')
			Result.force (25, 'N')
			Result.force (26, 'O')
			Result.force (27, 'P')
			Result.force (28, 'Q')
			Result.force (29, 'R')
			Result.force (30, 'S')
			Result.force (31, 'T')
			Result.force (32, 'U')
			Result.force (34, 'V')
			Result.force (35, 'W')
			Result.force (36, 'X')
			Result.force (37, 'Y')
			Result.force (38, 'Z')
		ensure
			has_26: Result.count = 26
		end

Practical Problems

In day-to-day business it happens that containers do appear which do not follow the ISO 6346 identification at all; however, they are fully CSC safety approved containers. Usually these are "shippers owned" containers, which means that they are not owned by the carrier but supplied by the cargo owners (shippers). They may have no registered owner code and no category identifier and have no check digit. It is advisable to follow ISO 6346 as the absence of a compliant identification code causes problems for both carriers and container terminals to correctly identify the equipment and properly deliver the cargo, because computer systems require ISO 6346 conformant naming and as such missing prefixes are invented. For example, YYYY at the carrier and XXXX at the terminal causes the equipment to mismatch. Moreover, since ISO 6346 identification has become a requirement in international Customs conventions (Customs Conventions on Containers and Istanbul Convention), many Customs Administrations have begun validating that containers are marked as per the standard.

Size and Type Codes

The codes are compiled of the following elements:

First character, representing the length (coded)
Second character, representing the width and height (coded)
Third and fourth character indicating the type of the container

The following is an overview of the most common codes:

ISO Type Group		ISO Size Type
Code	Description	Code	Description
20GP	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.	20G0	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
20GP	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.	20G1	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
20HR	ISOLADO CONTAINE REEFER	20H0	INSULATED CONTAINER
20PF	FLAT (FIXED ENDS)	20P1	FLAT (FIXED ENDS)
20TD	TANK CONTAINER	20T3	TANK CONTAINER
		20T4	TANK CONTAINER
		20T5	TANK CONTAINER
		20T6	TANK CONTAINER
20TG	TANK CONTAINER	20T7	TANK CONTAINER
20TG	TANK CONTAINER	20T8	TANK CONTAINER
20TN	TANK CONTAINER	20T0	TANK CONTAINER
		20T1	TANK CONTAINER
		20T2	TANK CONTAINER
22BU	BULK CONTAINER	22B0	BULK CONTAINER
22GP	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.	22G0	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
22GP	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.	22G1	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
22HR	INSULATED CONTAINER	22H0	INSULATED CONTAINER
22PC	FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)	22P3	FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
		22P8	FLAT (COLL.FLUSH FOLDING)
		22P9	FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
22PF	FLAT (FIXED ENDS)	22P1	FLAT (FIXED ENDS)
22PF	FLAT (FIXED ENDS)	22P7	FLAT (GENSET CARRIER)
22RC	REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)	22R9	REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)
22RS	BUILT-IN GEN. F. POWER SPLY OF REEF	22R7	BUILT-IN GEN. F. POWER SPLY OF REEF
22RT	REEFER CONTAINER	22R1	REEFER CONTAINER
22SN	NAMED CARGO CONTAINER	22S1	NAMED CARGO CONTAINER
22TD	TANK CONTAINER	22T3	TANK CONTAINER
		22T4	TANK CONTAINER
		22T5	TANK CONTAINER
		22T6	TANK CONTAINER
22TG	TANK CONTAINER	22T7	TANK CONTAINER
22TG	TANK CONTAINER	22T8	TANK CONTAINER
22TN	TANK CONTAINER	22T0	TANK CONTAINER
		22T1	TANK CONTAINER
		22T2	TANK CONTAINER
22UP	HARDTOP CONTAINER	22U6	HARDTOP CONTAINER
22UT	OPEN TOP CONTAINER	22U1	OPEN TOP CONTAINER
22VH	VENTILATED CONTAINER	22V0	VENTILATED CONTAINER
		22V2	VENTILATED CONTAINER
		22V3	VENTILATED CONTAINER
25GP	GP-CONTAINER OVER-HEIGHT	25G0	GP-CONTAINER OVER-HEIGHT
26GP	GP-CONTAINER OVER-HEIGHT	26G0	GP-CONTAINER OVER-HEIGHT
26HR	INSULATED CONTAINER	26H0	INSULATED CONTAINER
28TG	TANK FOR GAS	28T8	TANK FOR GAS
28UT	OPEN TOP (HALF HEIGHT)	28U1	OPEN TOP (HALF HEIGHT)
28VH	VE-HALF-HEIGHT =1448 MM HEIGHT	28V0	VE-HALF-HEIGHT =1448 MM HEIGHT
29PL	PLATFORM	29P0	PLATFORM
2EGP	GEN. PURP. WITHOUT VENT WIDTH 2.5M	2EG0	HIGH CUBE CONT. (WIDTH 2.5M)
42GP	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.	42G0	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
42GP	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.	42G1	GENERAL PURPOSE CONT.
42HR	INSULATED CONTAINER	42H0	INSULATED CONTAINER
42PC	FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)	42P3	FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
		42P8	FLAT (COLL.FLUSH FOLDING)
		42P9	FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
42PF	FLAT (FIXED ENDS)	42P1	FLAT (FIXED ENDS)
42PS	FLAT (SPACE SAVER)	42P6	FLAT SPACE SAVER
42RC	REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)	42R9	REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)
42RS	REEFER CONT.(DIESEL GEN.)	42R3	REEFER CONT.(DIESEL GEN.)
42RT	REEFER CONTAINER	42R1	REEFER CONTAINER
42SN	NAMED CARGO CONTAINER	42S1	NAMED CARGO CONTAINER
42TD	TANK CONTAINER	42T5	TANK CONTAINER
42TD	TANK CONTAINER	42T6	TANK CONTAINER
42TG	TANK CONTAINER	42T8	TANK CONTAINER
42TN	TANK CONTAINER	42T2	TANK CONTAINER
42UP	HARDTOP CONTAINER	42U6	HARDTOP CONTAINER
42UT	OPEN TOP CONTAINER	42U1	OPEN TOP CONTAINER
45BK	BULK CONTAINER	45B3	BULK CONTAINER
45GP	HIGH CUBE CONT.	45G0	HIGH CUBE CONT.
45GP	HIGH CUBE CONT.	45G1	HIGH CUBE CONT.
45PC	FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)	45P3	FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)
45PC	FLAT (COLLAPSIBLE)	45P8	FLAT (COLL.FLUSH FOLDING)
45RC	REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)	45R9	REEFER CONT.(NO FOOD)
45RT	REEFER HIGHCUBE CONTAINER	45R1	REEFER HIGHCUBE CONTAINER
45UT	OPEN TOP CONTAINER	45U1	OPEN TOP CONTAINER
45UP	HIGH CUBE HARDTOP CONT.	45U6	HIGH CUBE HARDTOP CONT.
46HR	INSULATED CONTAINER	46H0	INSULATED CONTAINER
48TG	TANK FOR GAS	48T8	TANK FOR GAS
49PL	PLATFORM	49P0	PLATFORM
4CGP	GP CONTAINER	4CG0	GP CONTAINER (WIDTH 2.5 M)
L0GP	HIGH CUBE CONT.	L0G1	HIGH CUBE CONT.
L2GP	HIGH CUBE CONT.	L2G1	HIGH CUBE CONT.
L5GP	HIGH CUBE CONT.	L5G1	HIGH CUBE CONT.

Use the below to calculate Size/Type of a less commonly used ISO 6346 containers:

ISO Length Codes		Second size code character
Code	Container length	Code	Container height	Width
1	10′	0	8′	8′
2	20′	2	8′6″
3	30′	4	9′
4	40′	5	9′6″
B	24′	6	> 9′6″
C	24′6″	8	4′3″
G	41′	9	<= 4′
H	43′	C	8′6″	2348mm < x <= 2500mm
L	45′	D	9′
M	48′	E	9′6″
N	49′	F	> 9′6″

ISO Type Codes
Code	Description
G0	General - Openings at one or both ends
G1	General - Passive vents at upper part of cargo space
G2	General - Openings at one or both ends + full openings on one or both sides
G3	General - Openings at one or both ends + partial openings on one or both sides
V0	Fantainer - Non-mechanical, vents at lower and upper parts of cargo space
V2	Fantainer - Mechanical ventilation system located internally
V4	Fantainer - Mechanical ventilation system located externally
R0	Integral Reefer - Mechanically refrigerated
R1	Integral Reefer - Mechanically refrigerated and heated
R2	Integral Reefer - Self-powered mechanically refrigerated
R3	Integral Reefer - Self-powered mechanically refrigerated and heated
H0	Refrigerated or heated with removable equipment located externally; heat transfer coefficient K=0.4W/M2.K
H1	Refrigerated or heated with removable equipment located internally
H2	Refrigerated or heated with removable equipment located externally; heat transfer coefficient K=0.7W/M2.K
H5	Insulated - Heat transfer coefficient K=0.4W/M2.K
H6	Insulated - Heat transfer coefficient K=0.7W/M2.K
U0	Open Top - Openings at one or both ends
U1	Open Top - Idem + removable top members in end frames
U2	Open Top - Openings at one or both ends + openings at one or both sides
U3	Open Top - Idem + removable top members in end frames
U4	Open Top - Openings at one or both ends + partial on one and full at other side
U5	Open Top - Complete, fixed side and end walls ( no doors )
T0	Tank - Non dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 0.45 bar
T1	Tank - Non dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 1.50 bar
T2	Tank - Non dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 2.65 bar
T3	Tank - Dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 1.50 bar
T4	Tank - Dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 2.65 bar
T5	Tank - Dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 4.00 bar
T6	Tank - Dangerous liquids, minimum pressure 6.00 bar
T7	Tank - Gases, minimum pressure 9.10 bar
T8	Tank - Gases, minimum pressure 22.00 bar
T9	Tank - Gases, minimum pressure to be decided
B0	Bulk - Closed
B1	Bulk - Airtight
B3	Bulk - Horizontal discharge, test pressure 1.50 bar
B4	Bulk - Horizontal discharge, test pressure 2.65 bar
B5	Bulk - Tipping discharge, test pressure 1.50 bar
B6	Bulk - Tipping discharge, test pressure 2.65 bar
P0	Flat or Bolster - Plain platform
P1	Flat or Bolster - Two complete and fixed ends
P2	Flat or Bolster - Fixed posts, either free-standing or with removable top member
P3	Flat or Bolster - Folding complete end structure
P4	Flat or Bolster - Folding posts, either free-standing or with removable top member
P5	Flat or Bolster - Open top, open ends (skeletal)
S0	Livestock carrier
S1	Automobile carrier
S2	Live fish carrier

Country Code (Optional)

The country code consists of two capital letters of the Latin alphabet as described in ISO 3166. It indicates the country where the code is registered not the nationality of the owner or operator of the container. The letters of the code shall not be less than 100 mm high.

Mandatory Operational Marks

Operational marks are intended solely to convey information requested for the movement of containers or give visual warnings. They relate to

the weight of containers
a symbol to denote air-surface container
a sign warning of overhead electrical danger
height marks for containers higher than 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)

References

Bureau International des Containers: Containers BIC-Code (printed brochure)
Container Numbering Guide

External links

Bureau International des Containers (BIC)
Intermodal Check Digit Calculator
BIC Code Identifier
Freight Container Check Digit Calculator (includes Java source code for download *Static Java Method does not convert "10" check digit to "0")
ITCO technical questions
List of owner codes (not the official BIC site)
Online check digit calculator
Russian maritime register of shipping - BIC representation
Container numbers validator
Get container dimensions and type by ISO code
Cargo container validator ISO 6346 in Javascript
Container number validation application

Intermodal containers

Overview	Containerization Intermodal freight transport Bureau International des Containers ISO 6346 (BIC code) Twenty-foot equivalent unit

Transport	Container ship Double-stack Flatcar Well car

Handling	Container terminal Container crane Reach stacker Rubber tyred gantry crane Sidelifter Straddle carrier Twistlock Container spreader

Types	Refrigerated container SECU Tank container

Other	The Box BBC Box Container (board game) Container Shipping Information Service Shipping container architecture Sun Modular Datacenter

ISO standards by standard number

List of ISO standards / ISO romanizations / IEC standards

1–9999	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 16 31 -0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9 -10 -11 -12 -13 128 216 217 226 228 233 259 269 302 306 428 518 519 639 -1 -2 -3 -5 -6 646 690 732 764 843 898 965 1000 1004 1007 1073-1 1413 1538 1745 1989 2014 2015 2022 2047 2108 2145 2146 2240 2281 2709 2711 2788 2852 3029 3103 3166 -1 -2 -3 3297 3307 3602 3864 3901 3977 4031 4157 4217 4909 5218 5428 5775 5776 5800 5964 6166 6344 6346 6385 6425 6429 6438 6523 6709 7001 7002 7098 7185 7200 7498 7736 7810 7811 7812 7813 7816 8000 8178 8217 8571 8583 8601 8632 8652 8691 8807 8820-5 8859 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -8-I -9 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14 -15 -16 8879 9000/9001 9075 9126 9293 9241 9362 9407 9506 9529 9564 9594 9660 9897 9899 9945 9984 9985 9995

10000–19999	10005 10006 10007 10116 10118-3 10160 10161 10165 10179 10206 10218 10303 -11 -21 -22 -28 -238 10383 10487 10585 10589 10646 10664 10746 10861 10957 10962 10967 11073 11170 11179 11404 11544 11783 11784 11785 11801 11898 11940 (-2) 11941 11941 (TR) 11992 12006 12182 12207 12234-2 13211 -1 -2 13216 13250 13399 13406-2 13450 13485 13490 13567 13568 13584 13616 14000 14031 14224 14289 14396 14443 14496 -2 -3 -6 -10 -11 -12 -14 -17 -20 14644 14649 14651 14698 14750 14764 14882 14971 15022 15189 15288 15291 15292 15398 15408 15444 -3 15445 15438 15504 15511 15686 15693 15706 -2 15707 15897 15919 15924 15926 15926 WIP 15930 16023 16262 16612-2 16750 16949 (TS) 17024 17025 17203 17369 17442 17799 18000 18004 18014 18245 18629 18916 19005 19011 19092 (-1 -2) 19114 19115 19125 19136 19439 19500 19501 19502 19503 19505 19506 19507 19508 19509 19510 19600:2014 19752 19757 19770 19775-1 19794-5 19831

20000+	20000 20022 20121 21000 21047 21500 21827:2002 22000 23270 23271 23360 24517 24613 24617 24707 25178 25964 26000 26300 26324 27000 series 27000 27001:2005 27001:2013 27002 27006 27729 28000 29110 29148 29199-2 29500 30170 31000 32000 38500 40500 42010 80000 -1 -2 -3

Category

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