Container colors are not just for looks, they help to identify the type and condition of the container, as well as the shipping line it belongs to. Most shipping lines have their own specific color schemes to effectively differentiate and coordinate containers.
Why do containers come in different colors?
Some of the main reasons include:
Identification of the container
Brand association
Customs regulations
Weathering and temperature control
Benefits of Container Colors
Identifying Containers
New containers (sub-new containers) are usually colored differently from used containers, special containers and storage containers. New containers are usually gray or white to allow for identification and recognition.
These color distinctions help yard and terminal operators identify containers and store them according to their category, as well as help shipping lines or suppliers to whom the containers belong to quickly identify their boxes. This saves time in going through the details of containers one by one in order to confirm their ownership.
Brand association
Containers belonging to a particular shipping company usually have the brand colors of that company. The colors of these containers are mainly associated with marketing and brand association purposes.
Here are 5 popular carriers and the colors they use for their containers:
Maersk Line – Light Blue
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) – Yellow
Duffy France – dark blue
COSCO – blue/white
Hapag-Lloyd – Orange
Customs regulations
Containers are subject to various security regulations. Therefore, the color of a container helps to show its compliance. For example, containers used to transport hazardous substances are often colored in a special way to indicate the type of cargo they are transporting.
Weatherability and temperature control
Colors aren’t just for aesthetic purposes; they can also increase a container’s weather resistance and protect the cargo inside. Container paint is a marine-grade coating that provides a barrier against the external environment for steel container bodies. This prevents the container from rusting and developing other forms of corrosion.
Certain colors (such as gray and white) reflect sunlight better. Therefore, refrigerated containers are usually painted white in order to keep the temperature-sensitive cargo inside them fresh and cool.
What do the different container colors mean?
Brown and Maroon Containers
Brown and maroon colored containers are usually associated with leasing companies. The reason for this is that darker colors are less prone to deterioration than lighter colors. Containers used for rentals and one-way shipments are subjected to more frequent transportation, and darker colors help to hide imperfections such as scratches, dents, and rust. This increases the chances that the container will be rented again in the future.
There are a number of leasing companies that use maroon containers, including Triton International, Textainer Group, and Florens Container Leasing.Read this article to learn more about the top leasing companies.
Blue Containers
The color blue is usually associated with standard containers that are associated with transporting dry goods such as grains, clothing and electronics. Duffy France is one company that uses dark blue containers.
Green Containers
Green is also a container color favored by various shipping companies. These include Evergreen, China Shipping and United Arab States Shipping Company (UASC).
Red Containers
Some companies will paint their tall containers (one foot more in height than standard containers) red. This helps to enhance its recognizability and sets it apart from standard containers. Bright colors (e.g., red and orange) can also be used to indicate that a container is carrying hazardous or toxic materials, but this is not an industry standard.
White Containers
The color white is usually associated with refrigerated containers. As mentioned, this is because lighter colors reflect sunlight more readily than darker colors, keeping the contents of the box cool and controlling the temperature.
Gray Containers
Gray containers are sometimes associated with military or government shipments. This color also reflects sunlight and keeps the cargo inside cool.
It is important to note that the above color schemes are not universal and different shipping lines use different colors for different container types, sizes and conditions.
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Post time: Oct-10-2023