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Container Conditions Explained

One Trip, IICL, Cargo Worthy, WWT, Refurbished and As-Is — what each term means, what it does not guarantee, and which condition fits your intended use.

  • 6 conditions compared
  • Cargo & storage guidance
  • Kept current with our own listings

Updated

When buying a used shipping container, age alone tells you very little. Two containers built in the same year can differ enormously depending on how they were handled, what they carried, how they were repaired and where they spent their working life.

The useful question is not "how old is it" but "what condition is it in, and what do I need it to do". A container that will carry cargo at sea has to satisfy requirements a container standing on a yard never will — and paying for those requirements when you do not need them is the most common way to overspend here.

The terms below are how the trade answers that question. This guide sets out what each one means, what it does not promise, and how CSC status fits alongside it.

How the conditions compare

A summary of the six terms side by side. Each one is set out in full below.

How the conditions compare
One TripRecent production / near-newBest forPremium storage, conversionsCargo useTypically a recent CSC plate — confirm statusCosmetic expectationHigh, relative to used stockKey caveatStill shows handling marks from one voyage
IICLInspection / repair criteriaBest forLeasing-standard inspection requirementsCargo useNormally yes — confirm basis and CSC statusCosmetic expectationVariable; criteria address damage, not paintKey caveatCommercial use of the term varies by seller
Cargo WorthyTransport / export useBest forCargo and export movementsCargo useYes, subject to inspection and CSC requirementsCosmetic expectationVariableKey caveatStructural suitability does not imply cosmetic quality
Wind & WatertightStatic storageBest forStatic, weather-protected storageCargo useNot impliedCosmetic expectationVariableKey caveatWeather resistance is not cargo certification
RefurbishedRepaired / refinishedBest forStorage where appearance mattersCargo useDepends entirely on the underlying unitCosmetic expectationUsually the reason for buyingKey caveatNot a standard — scope of work varies by supplier
As IsCurrent condition / no performance assumptionBest forRepair, fabrication and budget projectsCargo useNot impliedCosmetic expectationWhatever the unit currently isKey caveatNo performance standard implied — inspect first

Container conditions in detail

The same structure for every term, so they can be read across rather than down: what it means, what it suits, what to expect, and what it does not promise.

  • One Trip

    Best available

    Recent production / near-new

    Factory-built container that has made a single loaded voyage from the builder to Europe. Sold as the best condition realistically available outside the factory gate.

    Containers are built in Asia. Shipping an empty new container to Europe would waste a slot, so builders sell them into a loaded voyage — the container is filled with export cargo, carried once, discharged, and sold at the destination. That single laden voyage is what "one trip" means.

    The result is a container with a full-life coating system, an unmarked floor, a valid CSC plate and, in practice, a handful of small transit marks. It is the best condition anyone can buy outside the factory, and the entire trade sells it under the word "new" for that reason. We use both terms and explain the difference rather than choosing the flattering one.

    Best for
    • Buyers who want the longest service life and the cleanest starting point
    • Conversions, where every dent has to be worked around later
    • Presentation-sensitive uses: retail, events, client-facing sites
    • Cargo where a pristine interior matters
    What to expect
    • Original factory coating over the whole unit
    • Limited handling marks from a single loaded voyage
    • Recent production compared with normal used stock
    • A generally clean interior and floor relative to used units
    Does not guarantee
    • Zero scratches or dents
    • Identical colour across the units in a multiple order
    • A container that has never carried cargo
    • A specific manufacture year, unless confirmed for your order

    Important"One trip" does not mean the container has never moved. It describes a unit that has completed one loaded journey from the manufacturing location into its destination market.

    Browse new / one-trip containersOne trip explained in full

  • IICL

    Strict leasing standard

    Inspection / repair criteria

    Used container inspected against the published IICL criteria — the strictest widely used used-container standard, applied mainly in the leasing market.

    Unlike the informal grades, IICL refers to published inspection criteria issued by the Institute of International Container Lessors. It defines what damage is acceptable at interchange, so a unit described as IICL has been measured against a written standard rather than a surveyor's judgement.

    It is the right specification when the inspection standard itself is contractual. For most buyers, cargo worthy delivers the capability needed at a materially lower price.

    Best for
    • Buyers who need a documented inspection standard rather than a trade grade
    • Leasing and hire fleets where interchange criteria are contractual
    • Long-term freight service where downtime is expensive
    What to expect
    • Assessment against published inspection and repair criteria associated with the Institute of International Container Lessors
    • Defined limits on what damage and what repairs are acceptable
    • A stated inspection basis, where the seller applies the criteria formally
    Does not guarantee
    • A visually perfect container — the criteria address damage limits, not paint
    • The same meaning from every seller who uses the term commercially
    • That cosmetic condition formed part of the assessment
    • Current CSC validity, which is a separate consideration

    ImportantIICL refers to inspection and repair criteria, not to a visual standard, and commercial use of the term varies between sellers. Ask which inspection basis is being applied before treating it as a specification.

  • Cargo Worthy

    Export / transport

    Transport / export use

    Used container surveyed as structurally fit to carry cargo at sea, with a valid CSC safety approval plate.

    Cargo worthy is a structural judgement: the frame is square, the floor is sound, the doors seal and operate, and there is no damage that would fail the unit for sea carriage. It is normally accompanied by a valid CSC safety approval plate, which is what a terminal actually checks.

    What it explicitly is not is a cosmetic grade. A cargo-worthy container can be visibly repaired, patched and repainted in three colours. If appearance matters, that is a separate specification and it costs more.

    Best for
    • Any container that will be shipped as freight equipment
    • Export of goods where the box itself crosses a border
    • Buyers who want to retain resale value in the shipping market
    • Storage where the unit may later be sold on to a shipper
    What to expect
    • A structurally serviceable frame, floor and shell
    • Doors that operate normally and close against their seals
    • Structural repairs carried out to an acceptable standard where present
    Does not guarantee
    • Attractive paint or minimal denting
    • Recent manufacture
    • A clean or uniform exterior
    • That the CSC plate is currently valid for every intended movement

    ImportantCargo suitability and CSC status are not the same thing. Where the intended use requires it, confirm the applicable CSC plate or inspection status for the specific unit.

    Browse used containersCargo worthy explained in full

  • Wind & Watertight

    Static storage

    Static storage

    Used container that is structurally sound and keeps weather out. Makes no claim about fitness for sea carriage.

    Wind and watertight means what it says: the container keeps rain and wind out, the structure is sound and the doors work. It is the workhorse grade of the storage market and, for anything that will stand still, it is normally the most sensible money on the site.

    The limitation is precise. WWT says nothing about sea carriage, and a WWT unit may not have a valid CSC plate. If there is any chance the container will later be shipped, buy cargo worthy instead — the difference in price is smaller than the cost of discovering the problem at a terminal gate.

    One thing WWT does not promise is a dry interior. Condensation forms from moist air inside the box, not from a leak. See the note on condensation under storage containers.

    Best for
    • Static storage on a yard, site or farm
    • Workshops, stores and non-certified conversions
    • Buyers who will never ship the unit and want the best value
    What to expect
    • Doors that function and close against their seals
    • A shell intended to keep out normal wind and rain
    • Wear consistent with a container that has been in service
    Does not guarantee
    • Suitability for carrying cargo
    • Valid CSC status
    • Premium appearance
    • The absence of previous repairs

    ImportantWWT describes weather resistance for storage. It should not be treated as suitable for international cargo use without a separate assessment.

    Browse used storage containersWind and watertight explained in full

  • Refurbished

    Premium used

    Repaired / refinished

    Used container that has been repaired, prepared and repainted to a specified finish — a cosmetic grade layered on top of a structural one.

    Refurbishment covers repair of damage, replacement of failed components, surface preparation and repainting, usually to a nominated RAL colour. It is the honest way to get a used container that looks presentable, and for fleets it is the only way to get twenty units that look like each other.

    Insist on two statements in the offer: the underlying structural grade (cargo worthy or wind and watertight) and what the refurbishment actually included. A container described only as "refurbished" tells you about the paint and nothing about the box.

    Best for
    • Client-facing and public-facing sites
    • Conversions where the finish is the visible product
    • Fleet buyers wanting a uniform appearance across many units
    • Buyers who want a single colour rather than a patchwork
    What to expect
    • A described scope of work, which varies between suppliers
    • Work that may include repairs, repainting, rust treatment, door work or floor work
    • Appearance as the main thing being paid for
    Does not guarantee
    • A defined technical condition — this is not a standard
    • That structural suitability changed as a result of the work
    • That CSC status was renewed or reassessed
    • Consistency between one supplier and the next

    Important"Refurbished" is not a universal condition standard. Ask what was actually repaired, whether it was repainted, whether rust was treated, what was done to the floor, and whether the underlying unit remains wind and watertight or cargo worthy.

    Browse used containers

  • As Is

    Project / budget

    Current condition / no performance assumption

    Sold in its current condition with faults described and no warranty of fitness for any purpose. Priced accordingly.

    As-is is not a quality grade at all. It is a sales basis: the unit is sold in the state it is in, the known faults are described, and the buyer accepts them. It is entirely legitimate and the right answer for scrap, for cut-up projects and for storage where a hole in a panel does not matter.

    It is the wrong answer for anyone buying remotely on the basis of a grade, because there is no grade to rely on. If you cannot inspect the unit or send someone who can, buy wind and watertight or better.

    Best for
    • Buyers who will inspect the specific unit themselves
    • Scrap, cut-up and steel recovery
    • Non-critical storage where defects are acceptable
    • Conversion projects that will cut the shell apart anyway
    What to expect
    • The unit in its existing condition, on the basis of the description and inspection information given
    • Faults that are described rather than corrected
    • A price that reflects the work left to do
    Does not guarantee
    • Watertightness
    • Cargo suitability
    • Working doors
    • A usable floor
    • Valid CSC status

    ImportantAs-is carries no implied performance standard. Inspect the specific unit, or have it inspected, before committing to it.

    Browse used containers

What will you use the container for?

One question resolves most buying decisions: will the container be carried as freight, or will it stand still?

  1. Shipping cargo internationally?

    Cargo Worthy

    Confirm CSC requirements for the movement

  2. Static storage on a site?

    Wind & Watertight

    Cargo certification is not implied and is not needed

  3. Cleanest practical condition?

    One Trip

    Expect handling marks from one loaded voyage

  4. Appearance matters most?

    Refurbished

    Confirm the underlying condition and the scope of work

  5. Repair or fabrication project?

    As-Is

    Inspect the specific unit before committing

Condition terms by intended use

A lookup rather than a ranking — the same six terms arranged by the job in front of you.

Condition terms by intended use
Intended useSuggested starting point
International cargoCargo Worthy, plus a CSC check for the movement
Static dry storageWind & Watertight
Premium or presentation storageOne Trip
Conversion projectOne Trip, or a suitable inspected used unit
Appearance is the priorityRefurbished or One Trip
Repair or fabrication projectAs-Is, inspected before purchase
Leasing-standard inspection requiredConfirm which IICL criteria apply
Still unsure? Tell us the intended use

What condition terms do not tell you

Six things a condition term will not settle for you, whichever one is quoted.

  • Appearance

    Paint condition, denting and cosmetic wear vary widely inside every one of these terms.

  • Age

    Manufacture year does not determine serviceability. A well-maintained older unit can outperform a neglected younger one.

  • Dryness

    Weather resistance refers to rain and wind ingress. Condensation forming inside a sealed steel box is a separate problem.

  • Floor condition

    Floors vary significantly within the same broad category, and a floor is the expensive thing to put right.

  • CSC status

    Plate validity and inspection status are a separate consideration from the condition term used to sell the unit.

  • Previous repairs

    The extent and quality of earlier repair work varies, and repairs are not always visible from one side of the container.

Condition terminology does not replace inspection of the individual container.

  • Two stacked used shipping containers showing surface weathering and discoloured paint on a gravel yard

    Weathering and repairs

  • Door ends of used grey shipping containers with cam-operated locking bars, handles and stencilled markings

    Doors, bars and seals

  • Interior of a shipping container looking towards the far end wall, showing the marine-grade plywood floor and its fixings

    Floor and interior

  • CSC safety approval plate on a container door, showing approval reference, maximum gross mass, tare and examination date

    CSC plate

Examples of typical condition characteristics on used units. These illustrate what an inspection looks at; they do not represent any particular container offered for sale.

Container condition and CSC status are not the same thing

Condition terms describe what a container is like. The CSC plate is a safety approval under an international convention. They are related for some uses and independent for others.

Read the CSC plate guide
  • Cargo Worthy describes structural suitability for carrying cargo. It does not automatically mean the plate is currently valid for every movement you have in mind.
  • Wind & Watertight carries no implication of cargo certification at all.
  • One Trip units usually carry a recent plate, but status should still be confirmed rather than assumed.
  • Refurbishment does not inherently renew or change CSC status, however extensive the work.
  • As-Is implies nothing about the plate. Treat it as absent unless the seller states otherwise.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one official universal grading system for shipping containers?
No. Two of these terms point at written criteria — IICL refers to published inspection and repair criteria, and the CSC plate is a safety approval under an international convention. Cargo worthy, wind and watertight, refurbished and as-is are trade descriptions with widely understood meanings and no certifying body behind them. They also describe different things, so they do not form a single ranked scale.
What is the difference between cargo worthy and wind and watertight?
Cargo worthy concerns structural suitability for carrying cargo. Wind and watertight concerns keeping weather out, with no claim about carrying cargo at sea. If the container will never sail, WWT is usually the sensible specification.
Does cargo worthy mean the container has a valid CSC plate?
Not automatically. The two are related for transport use but they are separate things: one describes the condition of the unit, the other is a safety approval with its own validity. Where the intended movement requires it, confirm the applicable CSC plate or inspection status for the specific container.
Is one trip the same as new?
Most of the trade sells one-trip units as new, and in practical terms they are the newest containers available. They have also carried cargo once — that single loaded journey is what the term describes. Expect original coating and an unmarked floor, and expect a handful of handling marks. See one trip containers.
Does refurbished mean cargo worthy?
No. Refurbishment describes work carried out — which can mean repairs, repainting, rust treatment, door work or floor work, and varies between suppliers. It says nothing on its own about structural suitability for cargo. Ask what was done and what the underlying unit is.
Can WWT containers be used for international shipping?
Not on the strength of the WWT description alone. It concerns weather resistance for storage and implies nothing about cargo suitability or CSC status. A unit would need to be assessed separately against the requirements for the intended movement.
Does container age determine condition?
No. Handling, cargo history, repairs and maintenance matter far more than manufacture year. A well-maintained older unit can be in better condition than a neglected younger one, which is why condition terms exist at all.
Which condition is best for storage?
Wind and watertight, in most cases — you are not paying for sea-carriage capability you will never use. Consider cargo worthy only if the unit might later be shipped or sold on to someone who will ship it, and refurbished if appearance matters on the site.
Which condition should I choose for a conversion?
One trip, where budget allows: every dent and patch repair on a used unit becomes work later, and the original coating is a better starting point for cutting and welding. A carefully inspected used unit also converts well when the finished appearance is less critical.

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