How much height and weight of goods international shipping open top containers and flat rack containers can carry (detailed explanation of international shippin

Open top container sizes are generally divided into two types, namely 20-foot open top container size (20OT) and 40-foot open top container size (40OT).
Open top container transportation is mostly done by sea, and Seacon Shipping has many years of experience in open top container transportation at various ports such as Chiwan, Shekou, and Yantian. We implement specific professional transportation solutions for different types of goods.

International Shipping

What is an open top container?

An open top container, also known as an OT container, open top container, or OOG special container (Out Of Gauge), is a type of container that does not have a steel roof. It can be opened from the back door or loaded and unloaded from the top using a crane, making it suitable for transporting large machinery, oversized items, and more.

The 20-foot open top container size is commonly referred to as 20OT, and the 40-foot open top container size is referred to as 40OT. Despite being open top, the goods in these containers still require waterproofing and protection like regular containers. After loading the goods, the top must be covered with waterproofing devices. However, when the height of the goods exceeds the container, it can be difficult to waterproof. Customers usually rely on their own packaging and purchase waterproof canvas covers to ensure waterproofing, or use waterproof canvas covers provided by the shipping company, foldable top covers, or sealed devices with iron cables.

How much height and weight can be loaded in open top and flat rack containers?

Many people think that open top containers can load goods as high as they want because there is no roof, and flat rack containers can load goods as large as they want because there are no sides. However, both types of containers have their own loading standards. Open top containers, due to their lack of a roof, are less stable than regular containers and have lower weight limits. They can generally carry goods up to a height of 4 meters for safety reasons. Similarly, flat rack containers have weight limits due to the container's structure and the lifting capacity of port cranes. The maximum weight for a single container is 31 tons for a 20-foot flat rack and 40 tons for a 40-foot flat rack. The width and height are also generally limited to 4 meters. However, there is some room for expansion in terms of loading dimensions for flat rack containers.

What goods are loaded in open top containers and how is the loading arranged?

20-foot and 40-foot open top containers are mainly used to transport large machinery, equipment, metal pipes, glass products, and goods that are difficult to load and unload manually. Large machinery products include ball mills, excavators, mixers, embroidery machines, ceramic machines, tempering furnaces, crushers, grinders, fish feeders, slag pumps, slate, trucks, cranes, and more.

When choosing to load goods in open top containers, many factors need to be considered. Open top containers, as the name suggests, are suitable for loading large and oversized goods due to their height flexibility. From the perspective of the goods, overweight or oversized goods that cannot be loaded from the back of the container must be loaded in open top containers, using special machinery such as cranes for top loading. However, open top containers cannot handle goods weighing over 27.6 tons or goods that are too wide. In such cases, it is recommended to use flat rack containers (FR) because the lack of a roof in open top containers makes them unstable and limits their weight capacity. Therefore, it is said that "what makes open top containers also breaks open top containers."

Lastly, it is important to consider whether the goods need to be sealed in the container and whether they are susceptible to moisture, among other factors. Experienced and specialized container professionals need to consider the goods and container comprehensively. In Shenzhen, transporting open top containers in Shekou, Yantian, and Chiwan is different from regular containers and requires careful consideration to avoid issues such as damaged goods, rejection by shipping companies, accidents during loading and unloading, and more.

How to arrange the trailer and reinforcement for open top containers?

Many cargo owners are unfamiliar with open top containers when they first encounter them and may not know how to arrange trailers or reinforce the goods properly.

When arranging trailers for open top containers, the height of the goods must be considered as they are often oversized. Road height restrictions need to be taken into account to avoid obstacles and accidents. It is essential to have enough experience to anticipate road height restrictions in advance to prevent unnecessary returns, damage to goods, or traffic accidents.

Additionally, securing and reinforcing the goods in 20-foot and 40-foot open top containers is crucial. The basic principle is to prevent the goods from moving inside the container by securing them with wood at the bottom and sides. If necessary, use steel wires to tie down the goods and secure them to the container's bottom rings. The top should be covered with waterproof canvas or foldable top covers for waterproofing. Poor securing and reinforcement can lead to the shipping company refusing to load the container, causing delays at the port.

What are the relevant parameters of open top containers?

After describing the concept of open top containers in previous sections, you should have a general understanding. Today, we will discuss the dimensions and weight capacity of this container type.

Although container standards may vary slightly depending on the shipping company, country, or region, they generally follow similar standards. Like regular containers, open top containers are divided into 20-foot and 40-foot sizes (20’OT, 40’OT).