GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Tank container
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.
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Source: https://www.iso.org/iso-2048-1-2.html
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Definition & Explanation
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.
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