T11, T14, T50 and T75 tank containers: what is the difference?

What the T designation means

The T designation identifies portable tank instructions. Each instruction sets design and application requirements. Two containers with the same external dimensions therefore need not have vessels with the same properties.

The suitability of a category is checked against the official cargo classification and applicable transport rules.

Differences in intended use

How GOST requirements differ from a T instruction

GOST 31314.3-2006 and T instructions address different questions. GOST checks the container structure and its ability to withstand standardised transport loads. A T instruction defines conditions for using a portable tank with particular dangerous goods classes and requirements concerning the vessel, pressure, openings, safety devices and other transport provisions.

A description such as “20-foot tank container to GOST” does not automatically establish suitability for every product. Similarly, a T11 or T75 designation does not remove requirements for the frame, corner fittings and transport tests.

T11 and T14

For liquid products, the difference is defined by a combination of requirements, not a single characteristic. Medium properties, cargo category and regulatory limitations all matter.

T11 and T14 therefore cannot be meaningfully compared using just one number or the external appearance of their valves.

What distinguishes T50

T50 covers non-refrigerated liquefied gases. The key difference is a distinct gas phase and a vessel operating as a pressurised system.

The specific design depends on the transported medium; no universal configuration suits every case.

What distinguishes T75

T75 is intended for refrigerated liquefied gases. Alongside vessel strength, minimising heat ingress from the surroundings is essential.

Double-wall construction and an insulation system are therefore used, making thermal performance as important as geometric capacity.

Sespel’s industrial experience

Sespel’s range illustrates that the T designation relates to intended use and design requirements, rather than simply container size. The catalogue includes T11 and T14 for liquids, T50 for non-refrigerated liquefied gases and T75 for cryogenic media.

For example, C11L26RS and C14L26RS each have a capacity of 26,000 litres; C50D44/22-02RS holds 44,000 litres at a working pressure of 2.2 MPa; and C75D43RS holds 43,300 litres at 1.0 MPa. These are model-specific parameters, not universal characteristics of their T types.

Why the type is determined before the model

First, identify the cargo under transport classification and determine the applicable portable tank instruction. Then check minimum design requirements, material compatibility, operating temperature range, design pressure and valve arrangement.

Once regulatory requirements are established, select geometric capacity, permitted gross mass, component layout and filling and discharge options. This sequence reduces the risk of choosing a tank by size only to find it unsuitable for the product.

• UN number and proper shipping name;
• physical state and temperature range of the product;
• maximum permitted filling ratio and mass limits;
• compatibility of vessel, gasket and valve materials with the medium;
• required T instruction and special provisions;
• compliance of the container structure with GOST 31314.3.