04 Apr

Five criteria for inspecting shipping containers that you should be familiar with.

Container Inspection Criteria

“Container Inspection Criteria” Not all shipping companies, leasing entities, or container owners maintain distinct inspection
standards or cleaning and repair protocols. As a result, diverse inspection and repair norms have been established and
adopted within the container industry over time. Depending on customer needs, a range of inspection criteria and repair
guidelines are evident across the container industry.

Inspection Criteria

Various inspection criteria and cleaning and repair standards are prevalent in the container industry, catering to the needs of
shipping companies, leasing entities, and container owners. Some notable standards include:

  • IICL 6: Container Equipment Inspection Criteria
  • Common Interchange Criteria (CIC)
  • Criteria for Cargo-Worthy (CCW)
  • Maersk Container Inspection Criteria (MCIC)
  • Unified Container Inspection and Repair Criteria (UCIRC)

The International Institute of Container Lessors (IICL) sets industry-standard criteria for inspecting shipping containers,
focusing primarily on dry van or standard containers. These inspections are crucial to ensuring the safety and quality of
containers for global transportation. The IICL 6 criteria, implemented worldwide in 2016, cover various aspects of container
inspection, including structural integrity and cleanliness.

Common Interchange Criteria (CIC) and Its Impact on Container Maintenance and Costs

Additionally, the Common Interchange Criteria (CIC), developed by the Container Owners’ Association, aims to minimize
unnecessary repairs and reduce costs for general-purpose dry freight containers. Cargo-worthy criteria determine the
suitability of containers for transporting cargo based on structural soundness, although compliance with CSC surveys is also
necessary for international shipping.

Furthermore, Maersk Line employs its own Maersk Container Inspection Criteria (MCIC) for inspecting their containers.
Meanwhile, the Unified Container Inspection and Repair Criteria (UCIRC), developed by organizations such as the Bureau
International des Containers (BIC) and the World Shipping Council (WSC), focus on steel general-purpose containers and
includes measures for pest contamination inspection and removal.

These standards ensure the quality and safety of shipping containers, facilitating efficient and secure global trade.

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