Container Grades Explained: One-Trip, Cargo Worthy, WWT and As-Is
What One-Trip, Cargo Worthy (CW), Wind & Watertight (WWT) and As-Is shipping container grades actually mean — how they differ, what each costs in Saudi Arabia and which to buy for your use.
Quick answer
Shipping containers are sold by grade. One-Trip is near-new and used once; Cargo Worthy (CW) is surveyed and fit to ship by sea; Wind & Watertight (WWT) is sound and dry for storage but not certified to ship; As-Is is sold with known faults at the lowest price. Match the grade to your use, not the label.
Key takeaways
- Grade describes condition and shipping-readiness, not size — and it is the biggest price lever.
- One-Trip is near-new; Cargo Worthy ships by sea; WWT stays dry on the ground; As-Is has known faults.
- Buy WWT or Cargo Worthy for storage and conversions; pay for One-Trip only when you need near-new steel.
- Only a Cargo Worthy unit with a valid CSC plate should be used for export shipping.
When two 20FT containers are priced thousands of riyals apart, the difference is almost always grade. Grade is the industry's shorthand for a container's condition and whether it is still fit to carry cargo by sea. Understanding the four common grades is the single most useful thing a buyer can learn — it stops you overpaying for certification you will never use, and stops you buying a leaky box for a job that needs a sound one.
The four grades at a glance
| Grade | Condition | Ships by sea? | 20FT from (SAR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Trip (new) | Near-new, used once | Yes · valid CSC | 12,800 |
| Cargo Worthy (CW) | Sound, surveyed | Yes · valid CSC | 7,900 |
| Wind & Watertight (WWT) | Dry, no holes | No | 6,900 |
| As-Is | Known faults | No | On request |
One-Trip (new)
A One-Trip container is manufactured abroad, loaded once to ship it to the region, then sold as near-new. The steel is clean, the paint is fresh and the floor is unmarked, so it is the grade of choice for premium conversions, offices and anyone who wants the longest service life or best resale. It carries a valid CSC plate and is fully cargo worthy. It is also the most expensive — read our new vs used guide to see when the premium is worth it.
Cargo Worthy (CW)
Cargo Worthy is a used container that has been surveyed and found structurally sound enough to carry cargo by sea again. It will show cosmetic age — surface rust, dents, repaired patches — but the frame, floor and seals are sound and the CSC plate is valid. If your container will ever be shipped internationally, CW is the minimum grade you should buy. For everything else it is often more certification than you need.
Wind & Watertight (WWT)
A Wind & Watertight container is dry and sound — no holes, a solid floor and working doors — but it is not certified to ship by sea. For the biggest class of buyers in Saudi Arabia, who need on-site storage, a workshop or a static conversion, WWT is the smart buy: it does the job for the lowest sensible price and the box never leaves the ground. It is the value sweet spot for storage.
As-Is
An As-Is container is sold with its faults disclosed — a damaged door, a soft floor section, significant rust or a leak. It is the cheapest option and can be the right one if you plan to cut and modify the box anyway, or need a non-watertight shell for a specific use. Buy As-Is only with eyes open: inspect it or get photos, and price in any repairs. Our inspection checklist shows what to look for.
Grade, size and price together
Remember that grade and size are separate choices. A WWT 40FT high cube can cost less than a One-Trip 20FT, so decide the grade from your use and the size from your volume. For the full picture across both, see the shipping container price list, then send us your spec for an exact figure. Buyers in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam order every grade from our yard.
Tell us your use case and we'll recommend the right grade — then quote it in writing the same day.
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