The walls of open-top containers are generally made of corrugated steel. The floor is made of wood. It has the following typical distinguishing structural features. The roof consists of removable bows and a removable tarpaulin. The door header may be swivelled out.

These two structural features greatly simplify the process of packing and unpacking the container. In particular, it is very easy to pack and unpack the container from above or through the doors by crane or crab when the roof is open and the door header is swivelled out.

Usual open-top container dimensions are 20′ and 40′.

Open-top containers are used for all types of general cargo (dry cargo). Their principal uses are as follows:

• Packing and unpacking from above or through the doors by crane or crab
• Tall cargo