Open-Top Container
An Open-Top container is a standard container with a removable roof — usually a tarpaulin over removable bows rather than a fixed steel top. This allows cargo to be loaded and unloaded from above by crane, and lets over-height cargo that would not fit through the doors of a closed box be carried (protruding above the top rail where permitted, with special handling).
Open-tops suit machinery, tall equipment, timber, and any load that is easier to lift in from the top than to push through the doors. The tarpaulin is secured and sealed for the voyage. Because they are specialised equipment, open-tops are less available and cost more than standard dry containers, and over-height loads attract additional charges and securing requirements.
Some cargo simply won't go through container doors — it has to come in from the top. The open-top makes that possible, opening containerised shipping to tall and awkward machinery that would otherwise need break-bulk. Knowing when a load needs an open-top (and the over-height rules that follow) avoids a nasty surprise at the terminal.
When do I need an open-top container?
For cargo loaded from above by crane, or over-height items that will not pass through the doors of a closed container.
How is an open-top closed for the voyage?
With a removable tarpaulin over bows, secured and sealed; over-height loads need additional securing and attract extra charges.