Container basics
sea can
Sea can is an informal name for a shipping container, mainly used in Canada. It is a short form of sea container. In the trade, it means the same kind of box as a shipping container, used to carry or store goods.
Why it matters
If you see sea can on a quote or website, it usually means a standard steel shipping container. The term is common in Canadian buying and rental talk, while shipping container is the usual term in the United States and in global trade. For US operators who serve Canadian customers or work near the border, it helps to know both words. A common mistake is to treat a sea can as a different product. Condition grades, sizes and delivery needs are the same questions as for any container. Ask for size, grade and delivery details, and write them on the order so both sides use the same words.
Read: Shipping container sizes and dimensions for rental fleets
Definition source: yescontainers.com
Related terms
shipping container
A shipping container is a standardized steel box used to move freight by ship, rail and truck without unloading the goods. Most are rectangular, closed boxes with doors at one end. Many are reused for storage after their sea service ends.
conex box
A Conex box is a cargo container type first built for the U.S. Army in the early 1950s. The name is short for Container Express. People now also use it casually for any steel shipping or storage container, which can confuse buyers.
storage container
A storage container is a container used to store goods, often a retired shipping container, that sits on a site and keeps items dry and secure. Companies rent or sell them in several sizes and conditions. Many have double doors on one end and can be lifted or moved on a truck.
used container
A used container is a container that has served a working life, usually at sea, before being sold or rented for storage. Sellers grade used units, often as cargo worthy, wind and water tight or as-is. The grade affects price, appearance and how well the unit keeps out water.
portable storage container
A portable storage container is a container made for rent or sale as movable storage. NPSA describes portable storage containers as ISO shipping containers retired from international shipping and offered on the domestic market. In practice the term also covers other portable units.
ISO container
An ISO container is a freight container built to the ISO series 1 standards, such as ISO 668 for classification and dimensions and ISO 1496 for specification and testing. The standards let boxes fit the same ships, trucks and handling gear worldwide.
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