20' Bulk Container
The 20' Bulk Container is one of the most widely deployed pieces of intermodal equipment in the global container fleet. Built to ISO 668 and ISO 6346 standards, the unit carries the type code 22B1 on its corner casting and is universally accepted by every major container terminal, ocean carrier, road haulier and rail operator in the world. The box has a tare weight of 2,780 kg and a maximum payload of 28,000 kg. Internal dimensions measure 5.89 m long, 2.35 m wide and 2.38 m tall internally, with a door opening of 2.336 × 2.273 m + roof hatches.
The 20' Bulk Container is typically used for Dry bulk powders, grain, malt, plastics, sugar. Total cubic capacity is 32 cubic metres, which gives a useful working volume after dunnage and lashing of approximately 29 cubic metres for typical palletised loads. The unit is designed for stacking nine high under load and for the full set of intermodal handling — top-lift spreader, bottom-grappler arms, road chassis, and rail wagon transfer.
Technical specifications
| ISO type code | 22B1 |
|---|---|
| Common name | 20' Bulk Container |
| Tare weight | 2,780 kg |
| Maximum payload | 28,000 kg |
| Maximum gross weight | 30,780 kg |
| Internal length | 5.89 m |
| Internal width | 2.35 m |
| Internal height | 2.38 m |
| Cubic capacity | 32 m³ |
| Door opening | 2.336 × 2.273 m + roof hatches |
| Typical commodity | Dry bulk powders, grain, malt, plastics, sugar |
Booking a 20' Bulk Container
Almost every ocean carrier in the world supplies this format on demand. When you raise a booking, simply specify the ISO size code 22B1 or the common name "20' Bulk Container" and your forwarder or the carrier's e-booking portal will allocate one against your sailing. Equipment availability for standard dry boxes is rarely a constraint at major load ports such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Los Angeles — supply at smaller load ports varies and you may need to accept a re-positioning fee. For specialty boxes (reefers, flat racks, open tops, ISO tanks), book at least two to three weeks ahead, as inventory at any single depot is limited and the carrier may need to re-position equipment from a deep-sea hub.
Carriers most commonly stocking the 20' Bulk Container include:
- Maersk Line — Copenhagen, Denmark; SCAC MAEU.
- MSC — Geneva, Switzerland; SCAC MSCU.
- CMA CGM — Marseille, France; SCAC CMDU.
- COSCO Shipping — Shanghai, China; SCAC COSU.
- Hapag-Lloyd — Hamburg, Germany; SCAC HLCU.
- Ocean Network Express — Singapore; SCAC ONEY.
- Evergreen Marine — Taoyuan, Taiwan; SCAC EGLV.
- Yang Ming — Keelung, Taiwan; SCAC YMLU.