Container Condition and Acceptance Checklist

Start with the intended use and written acceptance criteria

Tell the seller whether you intend to transport cargo, store goods or modify the container. Agree the exact condition, door arrangement, acceptable defects and evidence you need before placing the order. Commercial labels describe an offer; they do not replace a unit-specific assessment or your carrier’s requirements.

Keep the location, type code and quantity basis on the written offer. For Duocon, confirm assembled sets versus separated units. For side-opening equipment, confirm the actual clear openings and door swing for the supplied batch.

One-trip, cargo-worthy, wind-and-watertight and as-is

• One-trip: commonly describes equipment used for an initial cargo journey. Ask what cosmetic wear and repairs are acceptable; the label does not mean unused or blemish-free.
• Cargo-worthy: ask which inspection criteria and supporting documents apply to the actual unit. Do not treat the label as a carrier’s acceptance or a current examination certificate.
• Wind-and-watertight: ask how weather resistance was checked and what floor, seal and door condition is included. This description alone does not establish suitability for international cargo transport.
• As-is: agree the known defects and inspection opportunity, and clarify any remedy or exclusion in the written terms.

These are questions for comparing descriptions, not a claim that every Oceanbox listing is offered in each category. Use the condition stated in the actual offer.

Which photographs and evidence should I request?

Ask whether the pictures show the offered units or a representative example. A useful evidence request covers the floor, interior walls and roof, outside panels, door seals, hinges and locking gear, and any known repairs. Ask about moisture, odor or contamination concerns relevant to your goods. Match equipment identification privately to the transaction documents; a picture of a similar box is not proof of the supplied unit.

Request measured cargo and opening clearances when they matter. Do not infer a batch’s dimensions or carrying capacity from a marketing type name. Arrange any necessary physical assessment with a competent party rather than treating photographs as a structural survey.

Does a CSC plate prove the current condition?

A safety approval plate is part of the international container-safety framework. IMO describes approval, inspection and ongoing maintenance under the International Convention for Safe Containers. A plate photograph does not by itself establish that today’s offered unit is undamaged or suitable for your shipment.

The BIC combined data plate explanation distinguishes approval information from ongoing condition and examination. For cargo transport, request the relevant plate and examination information and confirm what your carrier requires. Storage or modification requirements should be agreed separately; this buyer guide is not a survey certificate or shipping approval.

What is the difference between PES and ACEP?

BIC describes two approved examination arrangements. Under the periodic examination scheme (PES), the first examination is due before the fifth anniversary of manufacture, with later intervals no longer than 30 months and a next-examination-date marking. ACEP is an approved continuous examination program, identified by its scheme number, with regular inspections during operation.

Check the arrangements that will apply to the supplied unit and its use after transfer. An old operator’s marking should not be assumed to settle the buyer’s future examination responsibility. Refer to BIC’s examination-scheme guidance and confirm the relevant documentation and responsible party in writing.

Agree what happens if the unit does not match

Before dispatch, establish when the inspection takes place, who assesses conformity, what substitutions require approval, and how a disclosed mismatch is handled. Ask whether the agreed remedy is repair, replacement or another written arrangement. Do not assume a general return policy, warranty period or free repair where none is stated.

Confirm the selling-price currency and all relevant charges separately. Readiness, release instructions and depot arrangements require confirmation before a truck is sent; an elapsed ETA or Pickup label does not settle acceptance or permission to collect.

Download the buyer acceptance checklist

The printable checklist keeps equipment evidence, transport examination questions and commercial acceptance in one place. It contains blank checks and public reference links, with no inventory ownership marks, supplier details or private transaction data.

Download PDF checklist · Plain text version

To prepare a specific requirement, use the container request worksheet. Browse the public inventory, then request confirmation for the batch being supplied.