The container codes are available online

The International Container and Intermodal Transport Bureau (BIC - Bureau International des Containers) – the ISO-approved registration authority for container owners’ codes – maintain a permanentl review of all codes relating to freight containers on its website, as part of its improved services to the container industry.

The container codes or “BIC codes” are recognised under ISO International Standard 6346, “Freight containers - Coding, identification and marking”, which defines an identification system for freight containers, including all international transport and customs declaration documents. BIC codes are used in more than 120 countries by over 1,800 owners or operators, representing 95% of the world’s container fleet.

The container code list is published on the public area of the BIC website and under permanent scrutiny to ensure that it remains up to date over the short term. In addition to this list, the BIC provides indications on how to obtain a new code for those wishing to enter the container transport system.

With the enforcement of the ISO standard 6346 in the early 70’s, this service has been enforced for over 40 years to provide to the industry an easy identification method for containers and those responsible for a particular container, the processing of containers and their contents by customs, and the prevention of fraud in international container transport.

The BIC is the only non-government organisation that brings together all the parties involved with containerisation and intermodal transport on a worldwide basis.

Further information about the BIC and its related code list for freight containers are available on the BIC website: www.bic-code.org