The Difference Between DNV Offshore and ISO-Certified Containers

ISO shipping Containers are freight containers used for transporting products by truck, ship, or train. These ISO containers are international intermodal containers that comply with the standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Usually, people use ISO containers to transport heavy goods and palletized products. Due to certain methods of transporting ISO containers, especially trucks and ships, which expose them to natural environments, they are designed to withstand environments that may encounter harsh weather and other extreme conditions.

offshore containers are specially manufactured shipping containers used to transport equipment and materials to offshore structures, such as oil drilling Platforms and wind farms. They are different from conventional containers because they can be transferred between ships or from ships to platforms, and can withstand the forces generated when colliding with structures during the transfer process. offshore containers are also known as "DNV containers" due to the certification standards they follow.

So what's the difference between them?

DNV-certified offshore containers are far more robust than their ISO-compliant counterparts. Designed to be deck-stacked, they are built to withstand nature’s harshest weather conditions. They are certified to the DNV 2.7-1 standard, which sets strict requirements for the design, manufacture, testing, marking and inspection processes of containers. As a result, they maintain their structural robustness and safety for repeated use over a long period of time, with a lifespan of up to ten, and potentially even twenty-five years. Offshore containers are built to withstand storm-force winds, surging seas, large freak waves and constant corrosive sea mist. Considering that the force of ocean waves is enough to submerge the bow and deck cargo of a 400-meter-long, 230,000-tonne container ship, you can imagine how strong and watertight the more than 23,000 TEUs it carries must be.

In contrast, ISO containers are typically used for less demanding transport scenarios, such as overland shipping and storage. They are built to meet ISO standards, which are less stringent than the DNV 2.7-1 certification required for offshore containers. While ISO containers are robust and suitable for their intended purposes, they are not designed to endure the same level of abuse as their offshore counterparts. The materials and construction methods used in ISO containers are optimized for efficiency and cost-effectiveness, which means they may not be as durable or long-lasting as DNV-certified offshore containers. Therefore, when it comes to transporting goods in harsh marine environments, offshore containers are the preferred choice due to their superior strength, durability, and safety features.