International Container Bureau
Encyclopedia
The International Container Bureau oversees standards for intermodal container
s, commonly referred to as "shipping containers".
The goal of the organization is to promote cooperations between corporations, government units and independent organizations relating to intermodal freight transport
, the process of containerization
, and the transport and handling of shipping container
s.
It was originally established in 1933 under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce
, and stopped its operations during World War II
, with resumption again in 1948.
BIC was elected by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) in the late 1960s as the single registrar office in charge of the registration and protection of the containers owners and operators's identification code ("BIC code") later standardised as ISO 6346
. This ensures a unique code number for every shipping container in the world, and these must be registered with BIC.
The Customs Convention on Containers (CCC-1972) in a recent amendment enforced in 2008 also makes reference to the ISO 6346 and code registration with BIC to allow the free circulation of containers worldwide.
Its headquarters are located in Paris, France.
Intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
s, commonly referred to as "shipping containers".
The goal of the organization is to promote cooperations between corporations, government units and independent organizations relating to intermodal freight transport
Intermodal freight transport
Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation , without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes. The method reduces cargo handling, and so improves security, reduces damages and...
, the process of containerization
Containerization
Containerization is a system of freight transport based on a range of steel intermodal containers...
, and the transport and handling of shipping container
Intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
s.
It was originally established in 1933 under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce
International Chamber of Commerce
The International Chamber of Commerce is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. Its hundreds of thousands of member companies in over 130 countries have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise....
, and stopped its operations during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, with resumption again in 1948.
BIC was elected by the International Organization for Standardization
International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
(ISO) in the late 1960s as the single registrar office in charge of the registration and protection of the containers owners and operators's identification code ("BIC code") later standardised as ISO 6346
ISO 6346
ISO 6346 is an international standard covering the coding, identification and marking of intermodal containers used within containerized intermodal freight transport...
. This ensures a unique code number for every shipping container in the world, and these must be registered with BIC.
The Customs Convention on Containers (CCC-1972) in a recent amendment enforced in 2008 also makes reference to the ISO 6346 and code registration with BIC to allow the free circulation of containers worldwide.
Its headquarters are located in Paris, France.