Types of 20' Tank Containers: 20TN, 20TD, 20TG, 22TN, 22TD, 22TG

Containers used in international transportation mainly for five reasons: standardization, flexibility, cost reduction, velocity, warehousing and security gains. 


Tank containers are designed to be used for the transportation and storage of bulk liquids in international trade. They posses all the benefits of the general cargo containers.


Benefits of tank containers:
  • Standardization: Tank containers are in circulation of international transportation, have been built in accordance to the ISO norms just like general cargo containers. 
  • Flexibility: Tank containers are flexible as they can be transported using most modern inter-modal transportation options, including container ships, trucks and rail.
  • Cost reduction, velocity, warehousing and security: Tank containers provide a safe, reliable and cost-effective way to transport bulk liquids to most locations around the globe.
Most tank containers have similar dimensions of 20ft containers. Today I would like to explain the types of 20ft tank containers.

Types of 20' Tank Containers



All containers including tank containers are classified as per ISO 6346 standard. 20ft tank containers can be divided into two main categories:


  • 8' High Tank Containers
  • 8,6' High Tank Containers

8' High 20' Tank Containers:

There are three types of 8' high 20ft tank containers according to ISO 6346 standard. They are 

  • 20TN Tank Containers: These containers are suitable for non-hazardous liquids such as wines, spirits, vegetable oils and fruit juices.
  • 20TD Tank Containers: These containers are suitable for low-hazardous liquids and hazardous liquids.
  • 20TG Tank Containers: These containers are suitable for liquified gases.

8,6' High 20' Tank Containers:

There are three types of 8,6' high 20ft tank containers according to ISO 6346 standard. They are 

  • 22TN Tank Containers: These containers are suitable for non-hazardous liquids such as wines, spirits, vegetable oils and fruit juices.
  • 22TD Tank Containers: These containers are suitable for low-hazardous liquids and hazardous liquids.
  • 22TG Tank Containers: These containers are suitable for liquified gases.

What does 22RT, 42RT and 45RT mean in international container transportation?

There are various types and sizes of containers available in international transportation. 

Most of the containers are designed to be using in transportation of general cargo. These containers are known as general purpose containers.

Small amount of containers are designed to be used in transportation of special cargo. These kind of special cargo containers are named according to their usage such as reefer container, isolated containers, refrigerated containers, tank containers, bulk container, platform containers etc...


All containers, general or special purpose, should be marked according to ISO Shipping Container Size Codes.

What does 22RT, 42RT and 45RT mean?


22'RT, 42'RT and 45'RT are the ISO Shipping Container Size Codes for 20 feet reefer container, 40 feet reefer container and 45 feet highcube reefer container respectively.

  • 22RT 20 Feet Refrigerated Container: These containers have the same standard sizes as 20 feet dry container. Reefer containers are especially suitable for cargo which requires constant temperature levels above or below freezing point. 
        Food can be transported with these containers.
  • 42RT 40 Feet Refrigerated Container: 40ft refrigerated containers have very similar inside dimensions as 40 feer dry container. They are suitable for cargo that requires constant temperatures during the transportation.
        Food can be transported with these containers.
  • 45RT 45 Feet Highcube Refrigerated Container: 45ft highcube reefer containers and 45ft dry highcube containers share similar interior dimensions. It is possible to carry perishable goods that need constant temperature during the transportation.

        Food can be transported with these containers.

NOT: 45RC is the ISo code of 45 Feet Highcube Refrigerated Container which is suitable for carriage of chemicals. 45RC container is not suitable for food stuff carriage. 



Calculating Pallet Loads Online Free of Charge

On my previous articles I have explained how many pallets can be fitted in different types of containers. Let me give some quick links for whom wish to check those pages:


Today I would like to show you how to calculate how many cartons you can fit on any type of pallet online and of course free of charge.




The website that we will be using for the pallet load calculation is onpallet.com. onpallet.com is powered by Lorenz Pan AG, which is a German manufacturing company that produces palletizing plants, compact palletizer, robotic palletizer etc. 

If you want to learn more about Lorenz Pan AG and their product range please click this link reaching to their company website.

Now let us back to our topic and start learning how to optimize pallet loads by using onpallet.com.

What are the main differences between 45' standard high cube container and 45’ pallet wide container?

45 feet containers are the replacements units of semi-trailers which are extensively used in land transportations. 

While some 45 feet containers have very similar internal dimensions of a standard trailer, some 45 feet containers have identical internal dimensions of a standard trailer.

Today I would like to compare not only 45' standard high cube and 45’ pallet wide containers but also their internal dimensions with the standard semi-trailers. 

How many Euro Pallets and Standard Pallets fit in a curtainsider trailer?

Trailers are one of the key elements of not only land transportation but also multimodal transportation that covers a significant amount of land transport. In some cases trailers are also called as semi-trailers or TIRs.

There are different types of trailers available on the market such as curtainsider trailer, mega trailers or high cube trailers, reefer trailers, flat platforms etc.

Just like general purpose freight containers, standard type curtainsider trailers are the most frequently seen trailer type on the market, because they have been designed to be used with the transport of cargo of the greatest possible variety.


Most customer goods are suitable to be transported by the standard curtainsider trailers such foods that do not require refrigeration during the transportation, garments, machines, electronic appliances etc. 

Today I would like to explain you that how many euro pallets (800 x 1200 mm) or standard pallets (1000 x 1200 mm) you can fit into a curtainsider trailer.