Prefixlist has moved. You wouldn't have noticed if I didn't tell. But the old server couldn't handle the peaks in visitors anymore. It's always nice when you have to move because of growth. Unfortunaly the virtual packing (back-ups), moving and unpacking took a bit more time than expected. The site was always online, it just couldn't be updated in that period. All is completed now, updates are done and even more pictures are added to prefixes in the list. Prefixlist runs on a server now with larger capacity to guarantee good access to the data at all times. A big applause to the IT-specialists who made this all happen without disturbing accessibility of the site. I came in touch with Jimmy Fong in Singapore who provided a lot of Asian domestic prefixes and pictures to the site. Most pictures are from his weblog (http://intermodalnetwork.blogspot.nl/). More should come in the near future. Also a lot of pictures from Tom Smith (UK). Very grateful for his contributions.

But the work is never done. Not for me in maintenance, not for the IT-orcs in the deep dungeons of Prefixlist. Soon the tweets on the Twitter page will be integrated right here, so you can see the latest updates, modifications and additions to the site without having to visit the Prefixlist Twitter page (www.twitter.com/prefixlist) . You can always follow Prefixlist on Twitter in order to get the updates in your own timeline.

So thanks to all, visitors in front of the stage, and the people backstage, who contribute to the success of Prefixlist. You all made this site an international success and I hope this continues forever. 'Cause one who tries hard to keep up in this ever changing container world can never lay back. I've made a 'thank you' list at the contact page. Special thanks to the IT specialists of Yinius. You are wonderful people. Please click on the banner on top of the page to visit them.

Lorenz ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Because of a lot of modifications behind the scenes updating the site was not possible for the past 3 weeks. Very busy now to catch up. More news on august 1st.

Lorenz ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Prefixlist is mainly a collection of container prefixes used in international intermodal traffic. The majority are registered by BIC (Bureau International des Containers, www.bic-code.org/ ) and all end with a U (for Unit). Those which are not officially registered can have other letters at the end but still most of them end with a U too. Japan already had it's own registration for domestic intermodal traffic equipment.

Recently a new registration appeared for European intermodal equipment. The International Union of combined Road-Rail transport companies (UIRR) released the ILU code (Intermodal Loading Units, www.ilu-code.eu/ ). It uses the same combination of 4 letters and 6 numbers + check digit. The 4 letter prefix can end on anything but the U. The ILU-code is meant for any intermodal equipment. Not only containers, but semi-trailers and swap bodies as well. For this last reason I'm still not sure if the ILU-code must be added to Prefixlist. I think I will add the containers only until further notice.

I came in touch with Charles Fox from Indianapolis USA who promised me contributions to the picture database. He already has sent in some nice pictures and I expect more to come. Slowly all the empty spaces in the picture database are being filled. If anyone else has pictures of containers that are not on Prefixlist yet, never hesitate to mail them.

Lorenz ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Although hard to imagine sometimes there's more to life than just the world of containers. So because of some personal matters Prefixlist will run a little lower on my priorities than usual for me. Sometimes things consume more of one's attention than wished for. This does not mean you need to hold back your pictures, questions, compliments, nasty words and other things you want to share with me. All incoming mail will be stored and replied to with possible delay. Deeply sorry for any inconvenience. Next month I hope to give full attention to the site again

Lorenz ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Pictures are very important at Prefixlist. A picture is proof for existence in most cases. Especially recent pictures. In a world with so many different container owners and even more prefixes it's impossible to see them all with your own eyes. Prefixlist is European based and a lot of containers and prefixes don't show up here. So I'm depending on others around the world to send in pictures from containers already in the list and even from new prefixes. My good friend Jim keeps sending in gate pictures from Canada (like the YELU) and I'm always grateful for that. There are more visitors who send in pictures and I thank them all for their co-operation.

I do surf the internet too in the hunt for new prefixes not on Prefixlist yet. Prefixlist is not the only container site, just the largest and most reliable. There are more people who dedicate their spare time to make pictures of ships, trains, trucks and containers. At the linkpage here at Prefixlist are various links to picture sites from where I used some pictures. Martyn Read in the UK has built a brand new site (http://ukrailwaypics.smugmug.com/) which you should visit. I also found two Japanese sites worth visiting. Japan has a very widespread intermodal network and uses a different domestic container code. Still a lot of Japanese containers have international standard ISO codes that were not on Prefixlist before. Like I said I can't look for new prefixes everywhere myself, so I asked and got permission from Yusuke (http://itgwhitl.web.fc2.com/container/index.htm) and Oomori (http://container.pro.tok2.com/) to use pictures from their sites. Last month I added over 100 new pictures and almost 50 new prefixes from these sites. All unregistered by BIC, but nevertheless running around the world. So Prefixlist is still growing, work is never finished. By the way, thanks for all the positive responses about the latest modifications at the site. I'm glad you all think it's a major improvement to get the pictures directly in the list.

So keep up with the additions and the latest news from Prefixlist at Twitter (www.twitter.com/prefixlist). You don't need to log in or have an account to see the latest tweets. When you want the updates in your timeline please follow Prefixlist at Twitter.

Lorenz ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )