An offshore container is a portable unit with a maximum gross mass not exceeding 25000 kg, for repeated use in the transport of goods or equipment, handled in open seas, to, from or between fixed and/or floating installations and ships. An offshore container comprises permanently installed equipment.

Offshore containers are also defined by the requirements throughout the standard.. Units for offshore lifting that are intended for installation and not for repeated transport are not considered to be containers. Likewise, units that do not have an outer framework with pad eyes are not considered to be containers. Hence, these units are not covered by this standard. (See however the definition of waste skip) Many such portable units may be eligible for certification according to DNVGL-ST-E273 Portable Offshore Units. Offshore containers may be divided into 3 main categories:

a) Offshore freight container: Offshore container built for the transport of goods. Examples of offshore freight containers: — general cargo container: a closed container with doors — cargo basket: an open top container for general or special cargo (e.g. pipes, risers) — tank container: a container for transport of dangerous or non-dangerous fluids — bulk container: container for transport of solids in bulk — special container: container for transport of special cargo (e.g. garbage compactors, equipment boxes, bottle racks).

b) Offshore service container: Offshore container built and equipped for a special service task, mainly as temporary installation. (Examples are, laboratories, workshop, stores, power plants, control stations, wireline units).

c) Offshore waste skip An open or closed offshore container used for the storage and removal of waste. Normally constructed from flat steel plates forming the load bearing sections of the container, bracing in the form of steel profiles, e.g. channel or hollow section, being fitted horizontally around sides and ends. Waste skips may be open or have loose or hinged covers In addition to the pad eyes for the lifting set these containers may also have side mounted lugs suitable for attachment of the lifting equipment mounted on a skip lift vehicle.