The 10 ft ISO tank frame is the smallest standard ISO container size used for tanks. Outer dimensions 2,991 mm x 2,438 mm x 2,591 mm per ISO 668:2020 Series 1 freight containers. Half the length of a 20 ft frame; corner castings per ISO 1161. Capacity ranges from 1,000 L (small specialty cargo) to 10,000 L (the larger end of small-format builds). The 4,542 L (1,000 US gallon) T11 in a 21H1 beam frame is the workhorse offshore type, used heavily on oil and gas rig-supply routes.
What 10ft is built for
Offshore DNV 2.7-1 rig-supply chemistry as the primary use case. Small-volume specialty cargoes (high-value chemistry where the full 24,000 L of a 20 ft tank is not justified). Crane-lifted handling on rigs, supply vessels, and offshore wind installations. The smaller form factor suits operations where deck space is constrained.
Some land-based operations also use 10 ft frames for specialty cargo movement: pharma intermediates in small lots, semiconductor reagents, specialty chemistry that ships in 5,000 to 10,000 kg parcels. The 10 ft frame fits a single deep-sea container slot (often as a partial slot share with another 10 ft frame stacked alongside) and accommodates standard truck and rail handling.
Construction and materials
316L stainless cylinder for chemical compatibility; carbon steel with appropriate lining for cargoes that attack stainless. The frame is typically heavier per unit length than a 20 ft frame because the smaller dimension provides less natural rigidity; offshore builds add a beam-frame lifting structure rated for crane loads. Tare runs 2,200 to 3,000 kg depending on the build (offshore frames are heavier than onshore).
When 10ft is the right choice
10 ft is the right frame for offshore service and for small-volume specialty cargoes. It is the only standard ISO frame size below 20 ft (apart from non-standard sizes used in regional operations).
When 10ft is the wrong choice
10 ft is the wrong frame for high-volume bulk-cargo operations. The 4,542 L typical capacity is six times smaller than a 20 ft T11; per-tonne shipping economics favour the larger 20 ft frame for any volume cargo. A buyer ordering bulk methanol who is offered “10 ft tanks” should clarify the volume mismatch.
Frame interface specifications
Outer length 2,991 mm. Outer width 2,438 mm. Outer height 2,591 mm. Corner castings per ISO 1161 at the four upper and four lower corners, accepting standard twist-lock fittings for vessel stowage. The frame nominally fits one deep-sea container slot but can share a slot with another 10 ft frame when shipping companies allow paired stowage.