# Tank container

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> A tank container is an ISO-standard intermodal unit consisting of a cylindrical inner tank mounted in a steel frame built to standard dimensions – predominantly 20 ft – designed to carry liquid, gaseous, or semi-solid cargo.

A tank container is an ISO-standard intermodal unit consisting of a cylindrical inner tank mounted in a steel frame built to standard dimensions – predominantly 20 ft – designed to carry liquid, gaseous, or semi-solid cargo. Its intermodal compatibility is its core commercial advantage: the same unit moves by sea, rail, and road without any product transfer between modes. Each container must hold a valid CSC (Convention for Safe Containers) certificate and pass periodic structural inspections; hazardous cargoes additionally fall under ADR, IMDG Code, and RID requirements depending on the transport mode. Inner-tank material – stainless steel, aluminium, coated steel, or lined vessels – is selected according to the product's chemical and physical properties, since corrosive substances impose different metallurgical demands than food-grade or mineral oil products. Cleaning and residue certification before repositioning represents a recurring operational cost: empty tank containers must be documented as clean and approved before a new product can be loaded.

**Source:** [https://www.iso.org/iso-2048-1-2.html](https://www.iso.org/iso-2048-1-2.html)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Tank container |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 155 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://www.iso.org/iso-2048-1-2.html |

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