Editing Intermodal container (section)

==Reporting mark==
[[File:Intermodal Container Locked Door - Kolkata 2011-02-03 0363.JPG|thumb|Various markings on the rear end of a [[Mitsui O.S.K. Lines|MOL]] container]]

Each container is allocated a standardized [[ISO 6346]] [[reporting mark]] (ownership code), four letters long ending in either U, J or Z, followed by six digits and a check digit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transcom.mil/dtr/part-vi/dtr_part_vi_603.pdf |title=Defense Transportation Regulation –Part VI |at=Chapter 603: Intermodal Container Coding and Marking |access-date=2010-11-15 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723125534/http://www.transcom.mil/dtr/part-vi/dtr_part_vi_603.pdf |archive-date=23 July 2015 }}</ref> The ownership code for intermodal containers is issued by the {{lang|fr|italic=no|[[Bureau International des Containers]]}} (International container bureau, or BIC) in France, hence the name "BIC-Code" for the intermodal container reporting mark. So far there exist only four-letter BIC-Codes ending in&nbsp;"U".

The placement and registration of BIC Codes is standardized by the commissions TC104 and TC122 in the JTC1 of the ISO which are dominated by shipping companies. [[Shipping container]]s are labelled with a series of identification codes that includes the manufacturer code, the ownership code, usage classification code, UN placard for hazardous goods and reference codes for additional transport control and security.

Following the extended usage of pallet-wide containers in Europe the EU started the Intermodal Loading Unit (ILU) initiative. This showed advantages for intermodal transport of containers and swap bodies. This led to the introduction of ILU-Codes defined by the standard EN 13044 which has the same format as the earlier BIC-Codes. The International Container Office BIC agreed to only issue ownership codes ending with U, J or Z. The new allocation office of the UIRR (International Union of Combined Road-Rail Transport Companies) agreed to only issue ownership reporting marks for swap bodies ending with A, B, C, D or K – companies having a BIC-Code ending with U can allocate an ILU-Code ending with K having the same preceding letters. Since July 2011 the new ILU codes can be registered, beginning with July 2014 all intermodal ISO containers and intermodal swap bodies must have an ownership code and by July 2019 all of them must bear a standard-conforming placard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.intermodal-terminals.eu/content/e2/e368/inhalte370/ILUcode_Brochure_EN_v09_eng.pdf |title=New markings of intermodal loading units in Europe |publisher=International Union of Combined Road-Rail Transport Companies |date=10 May 2011 |access-date=8 September 2011 |archive-date=2 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402081836/http://www.intermodal-terminals.eu/content/e2/e368/inhalte370/ILUcode_Brochure_EN_v09_eng.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>