What is a container number?

If you are not dealing with a fraudulent transaction, you should be able to identify corresponding container number/numbers on the bill of lading as an importer.

But what is a container number? What are the benefits of using a container number in international sea transportation? How to check a container number in order to make sure that the container number is valid and correct? 

On this article I will try to answer these questions. Let us start with the definition of the container number.

What is Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC)?

As an exporter or importer you should have seen SCAC codes on the bills of lading. 

On this article I will try to explain the meaning of SCAC codes. 

After reading this page you should understand the key aspects of SCAC codes in international transportation.

What is SCAC?

SCAC is the abbreviation that stands for Standard Carrier Alpha Code. 

Standard Carrier Alpha Code is a specific code used to identify transportation companies such as freight container carriers and forwarders.

Each transportation company has its own Standard Carrier Alpha Code.

What does “Said to Contain” (STC) mean on a bill of lading?

Said to contain means that the shipper that has loaded the goods into the container has done his best to make sure that the goods which are loaded into the container are matching the description of goods stated on the bill of lading in a containerized shipment. 

Because of the fact that carriers could not know exactly what would have been loaded into the containers, they add this expression on the face of the bills of lading that they have issued in order to protect themselves.

A carrier or a forwarder has no knowledge of the contents of the container unless the container is stuffed by the carrier, forwarder or their agents. 

The shipper that has loaded the goods into the container should take necessary steps to ascertain the contents of the container.

"Said to Contain" or “STC” generally added to the description of the goods on the bill of lading. 

This term means that the content of a sealed container received by the carrier as is without any additions. 

What are the differences between carriers and freight forwarders?

Definition of Carrier in International Conventions:

Global sea cargo transportation is governed by international conventions.

The first convention signed in international scale related to international sea transportation is known as "Hague Rules".

The full name of this convention is "International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law relating to Bills of Lading and Protocol of Signature".

Hague Rules drafted in Brussels on 25 August 1924 and defines the carrier as follows:

"Carrier" includes the owner or the charterer who enters into a contract of carriage with a shipper.

"Freight collect" or "Freight Prepaid" should be used with DAT Incoterms 2010?

DAT is a new trade term. It is very normal that most of the exporters or importers do not know the main characteristics of this new trade term in detail.

DAT is a trade terms defined in Incoterms 2010. Its long form is "Delivered at Terminal". According to the Incoterms 2010 rules, exporters deliver goods to the importers at the importers country when DAT trade term is chosen.