The 30 ft ISO tank frame (designation 1CCC under ISO 668:2020) is a less common but established frame size for specific use cases: heated bitumen tanks (the 30 ft Danteco bitutainer at 28,500 L being the canonical build), cement and fly-ash silo containers, and selected bulk-chemical operations on European intermodal routes. Outer dimensions 9,125 mm x 2,438 mm x 2,591 mm. Corner castings per ISO 1161. The frame fits into 1.5 deep-sea container slots (rather than a single slot like the 20 ft, or two slots like the 40 ft), making vessel stowage somewhat awkward but not impossible.
What 30ft is built for
Heated bitumen at 28,500 L: the Danteco direct-flame bitutainer is the dominant 30 ft tank in commercial service, moving bitumen from refineries to road-construction projects worldwide. Cement and fly-ash in 30 ft silo configurations for construction supply chains. Bulk chemicals on European intermodal routes where the larger volume per tank improves road and rail economics; some operators run 30 ft chemical T11 builds for specific volume-cargo contracts.
Construction and materials
Frame uses heavier longitudinal beams than the 20 ft frame because of the longer span. Cylinder material varies by service: 316L stainless for chemical T11 builds, carbon-steel Q345R with super-insulation for bitumen, aluminium 5083 for cement silo (lower tare). Tare runs 5,500 to 8,000 kg depending on the build. Capacity 26,000 to 38,000 L typical, with the bitutainer at 28,500 L and the larger swap-body-style bulk chemical builds at 35,000 L.
When 30ft is the right choice
30 ft is the right frame for the heated bitumen trade specifically. The Danteco direct-flame design and the 30 ft frame combination is the established solution for moving bitumen between refineries and construction projects in 28-tonne lots. 30 ft is also the right frame for cement-silo operations where the 22,000 to 30,000 L capacity matches the receiving-silo throughput economics.
When 30ft is the wrong choice
30 ft is the wrong frame for general bulk-chemical service where the 20 ft frame’s larger fleet inventory and easier vessel stowage win on per-tonne economics. The 1.5-slot vessel stowage means the frame requires cooperative stowage planning, which not every carrier accommodates on every route.
Frame interface specifications
Outer length 9,125 mm. Outer width 2,438 mm. Outer height 2,591 mm. Corner castings per ISO 1161 at the four upper and four lower corners. Vessel stowage typically requires the carrier to allocate 1.5 standard slots, with the half-slot occupied by ancillary stowage or void. Some carriers don’t book 30 ft tanks on all routes; the booking should explicitly confirm the 30 ft acceptance.