GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
ISO 6346
Shipping lines, terminal operators, and logistics providers track every intermodal container by its ISO 6346 identifier, stencilled on the exterior panels to ensure continuity across sea, rail, and road legs.
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Source: https://www.iso.org/standard/20453.html
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Definition & Explanation
Shipping lines, terminal operators, and logistics providers track every intermodal container by its ISO 6346 identifier, stencilled on the exterior panels to ensure continuity across sea, rail, and road legs. The code has four components: a three-letter owner code, a single-character equipment category identifier (U for general-purpose freight containers), a six-digit serial number, and a check digit for validation. Port terminals and customs systems capture this marking automatically via OCR or barcode readers, matching it against booking records, bills of lading, and dangerous-goods declarations. ISO 6346 should not be confused with the BIC owner prefix alone—only the complete ISO 6346 code forms the globally unique reference for an individual container unit.
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