WO2008142202A2

WO2008142202A2 - Method and stand for loading reels onboard a ship and shipping arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2008142202A2
Application number: PCT/FI2008/050278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Langh
Original assignee: Oy Langh Ship Ab
Priority date: 2007-05-18
Filing date: 2008-05-16
Publication date: 2008-11-27
Also published as: FI124856B; FI20085164A0; WO2008142202A3; FI20085164A

Abstract

The invention relates to a stand for use in loading reels onboard a ship, transporting them onboard and unloading them from ship, the stand (8') comprising a base structure (50'), a cradle for receiving a reel (7) and supporting surfaces (60') for supporting the reel laterally, and each corner of the stand's base structure is provided with a fastening means (11') for fastening the stand with a fastening arrangement to fastening points of the deck in the ship's cargo space. In order for the stand to allow fast and efficient loading, transporting and unloading of reels of different sizes and weights, and also to allow ready utilization of the ship to carry other cargo than reels, the base structure (50') of the stand (8') comprises an elastic supporting surface (A') that is arranged to yield such that the stand bends against the deck when the stand is charged with reels (7). The invention also relates to a method and shipping arrangement for utilization of the stand.

Description

METHOD AND STAND FOR LOADING REELS ONBOARD A SHIP AND SHIPPING ARRANGEMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a stand for loading reels onboard a ship. More particularly the invention relates to a method in accordance with the preamble of the attached claim 1 for loading reels and a stand in accordance with the preamble of the attached claim 4 to be used for loading and transporting the reels onboard a ship and for unloading them from ship.

[0002] From publication DE 3246331 A1 is known a method and a stand for loading reels onboard a ship.

[0003] A drawback with the solution of publication DE 3246331 A1 is that it does not enable efficient and safe transport of the reels. This known solution does not enable efficient placing of the reels on stands. As the reels are placed transversely on the stand, reels of different sizes cannot be transported without actually leaving empty waste space in the stand. In addition, the ends of the stands comprise a space-consuming end structure. The stand does not comprise sufficiently firm locking either for attaching it to the ship deck so as to allow safe transportation of a plurality of heavy reels thereon. Especially, if the reels are to be transported on a middle deck of the ship, where it is of utmost importance to the safety of the ship and the crew that the reels stay in place, the locking is not sufficient. For locking the stand the solution employs so-called twist locks, which are not sufficient in all situations to keep the stand safely in place in a cargo space of the ship.

[0004] From EP publication 1222107 there is known a solution for safe transportation of reels. Even though this known solution enables efficient transportation of reels, in particular on middle deck, the solution restricts, in some cases, the usability of the ship for transportation of other cargo than reels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a solution which eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and enables very efficient and safe shipping (including loading, transport and unloading) of both reels and other cargo. The solution may be almost completely automated, which speeds up loading and unloading of reels. [0006] In order to implement this, the arrangement of the invention is characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of the attached claim 1. It is essential that a stand, whose base structure comprises an elastic supporting surface for supporting the stand against a deck in the cargo space of the ship, is used for loading, the rigidity of the stand being designed such that the base structure of the stand is arranged to yield elastically an amount to provide the base structure of the stand to bend against the deck and the elastic supporting surface forms a pressure equalizing surface against the deck, when the stand is loaded with reels. A stand of this kind reduces loads applied to the stand's fastening arrangement wherewith the stand is secured to the ship deck. It is also essential that reels are loaded on a middle deck of the ship.

[0007] In addition to the above method steps, the reels should also be tied to the stands with appropriate means. For this purpose the stand comprises fastening means which consist of fastening points for tying belts, for instance, arranged on the top surface of the stand.

[0008] The invention is based on the idea to provide a stand that is applicable to efficient transportation of reels and that is firmly securable to a deck/mounting base below in the manner of a conventional container, preferably utilizing conventional fastening means and points employed for fastening a conventional container, but which stand, when loaded, loads the deck/mounting base below evenly over a large surface and not only at fastening points (locking points) to the deck/mounting base below having a very small supporting surface. It may be said that the stand loads the base below a little like a snow shoe, even though the last-mentioned is not fastened to a base below, and the last-mentioned need not yield, unlike the stand of the invention. The pressure equalizing surface of the stand, which comes into contact with the ship deck, also acts as a friction surface, which in rough seas reduces, in a decisive manner, the loads applied to the fastening arrangement of the stand, and thus enables the use of conventional fastening arrangements, such as so-called twist locks. It is thus recommendable to utilize fastening arrangements employed for fastening a conventional container.

[0009] There is preferably used a stand whose cradle is formed of a longitudinal trough extending from one end of the stand to the other, the cradle being open such that the stand is open at opposite ends. It is possible to utilize the length of the trough in full, because a reel may be placed on the stand such that it is partly supported by the trough portion at the end of the stand and also partly supported by the trough at the end of another stand, which stands are mutually placed in alignment such that, in practice, the troughs thereof form a continuous long trough.

[0010] There are preferably used stands comprising corner poles for receiving containers, whereby on top of the corner poles loaded with reels there are piled containers whose content may vary, naturally. The containers have standard dimensions.

[0011] The stand of the invention is characterized in that its base structure comprises an elastic supporting surface for supporting the stand against a deck in the cargo space of the ship, the rigidity of the stand being designed such that the base structure of the stand is arranged to yield elasti- cally an amount that makes the base structure of the stand to bend against the deck and the elastic supporting surface forms a pressure equalizing surface against the deck, when the stand is loaded with reels.

[0012] The size of the supporting surface is preferably at least 5% of the surface area of the stand base, when the stand is subjected to a reel load of about 100 tons. The supporting surface of this size equalizes the load sufficiently and also provides a friction surface that reduces the load applied to the fastening arrangement. It can be considered that the size of the supporting surface is sufficient if it covers at least 1% of the surface area of the stand base when the stand is subjected to a reel load of 100 tons or even considerably less than that.

[0013] The length of the stand is preferably 12 m and the width is about 2.4 m, which corresponds to the length and width of a 40-foot container, whereby the lower edge of each long side also preferably comprises four fastening means, the fastening means in the corners included, the corners of the top level of the stand comprise fastening means and the upper edge of each long side comprise four fastening means, the fastening means in the corners included, and consequently the base structure of the stand comprises eight fastening points and the top level of the stand comprises eight fastening points, and the mutual distance between the fastening means on the top level is also such that on top of the stand it is possible to fasten two 20-foot standard containers having the same height position. This stand enables, for instance, the ship to carry reels on the way out, and containers that are fastened directly on top of the stands on the way back. [0014] The ends of the stands preferably comprise corner poles for receiving a container of standard size, which corner poles are preferably collapsible to a horizontal position.

[0015] The stand preferably comprises lifting points, to which a lifting means of a lifting apparatus is connectable by guiding the lifting means through holes extending through the stand, the lifting points being formed at the midpoint of the stand length at a distance from one another symmetrically on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the stand. The stand of this kind may be readily lifted with a reel-gripping device that allows two adjacent or superposed stands to be lifted.

[0016] Preferred embodiments of the stand in accordance with the invention are disclosed in the attached claims 5 to 13.

[0017] The shipping arrangement of the invention is characterized by what is stated in the attached claim 14. Preferred embodiments of the shipping arrangement are disclosed in claims 15 to 20.

[0018] The method of the invention, the stand and the shipping arrangement enable fast and efficient loading of reels of different sizes and weights, efficient and safe transportation of the reels and fast unloading of the reels, and they further enable the ship to be utilized, with minor measures - or depending on the type of the cargo without any extra measures - for transportation of cargo other than reels. Efficient transportation refers here to a possibility of efficient utilization of the ship's cargo capacity. The invention may utilize conventional fastening arrangements intended for fastening containers in order to secure stands to a mounting base (to a deck of the ship's cargo space). The invention is assumed to enable safe transportation of reels also on the ship's middle deck. As the pressure equalizing surfaces of the stands constitute part of the fastening arrangement of the stands, the load applied to the base/deck will be relatively even (the relation of load to surface area is relatively even, irrespective of the point in the base/deck that is observed), and consequently it is possible to utilize better the strength of the base/deck and to load the base/deck more than without the pressure equalizing surface. The pressure equalizing surface also provides a friction surface against the base (ship deck), which friction surface offers in rough seas a friction force that resists lateral movement of the stands and that also reduces the loads applied to the fastening arrangement of the stand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail by means of an example, with reference to the attached drawing, in which

Figure 1 illustrates an example of a ship, in which a stand in accordance with the invention may be utilized,

Figure 2 illustrates the ship of Figure 1 loaded with reels,

Figure 3 illustrates how reels are loaded onboard a ship of Figure 2 by employing the stands of the invention,

Figure 4 illustrates a lateral support of the stands of Figure 3,

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate alternative structures to the lateral support of Figure 4,

Figures 9 to 12 are a side view, a top view, a bottom view and an end view of the structure of a first embodiment of the stands onboard a ship of Figure 2,

Figures 13 to 15 illustrate the operation of the stand of Figures 9, 11 and 12,

Figure 16 shows a lifting apparatus for moving the stands,

Figures 17 and 18 illustrate the use of the lifting apparatus as the stands of the invention are moved,

Figure 19 illustrates a ship utilizing a second embodiment of the stand in accordance with the invention,

Figures 20 to 27 illustrate the second embodiment of the stand in accordance with the invention and the use thereof, and

Figures 28 to 31 illustrate a shipping arrangement of the invention employing the stand of Figures 22 to 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Figure 1 illustrates a ship that is suitable for reel transportation. In this connection reels refer particularly to heavy steel coils that consist of coiled steel sheet. Typically, the coils weigh about 10 to 20 tons, but the coils may also be heavier than that. Instead of steel coils, the ship of Figure 1 may also carry other reels and other cargo.

[0021] In Figure 1 , reference numeral 1 denotes a cargo space, reference numeral 2 denotes middle-deck portions, which together form a middle deck 3 shown in Figure 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes deck portions, which together form an upper deck 5 ("weather deck") shown in Figure 2. Reference numeral 6 denotes a stowage or storage space in the cargo space 1 for the middle deck portions 2. The location of the storage space 6 may differ from what is shown here.

[0022] As appears from Figure 1 , the middle-deck portions 2 are hinged in pairs to one another such that they may be folded against one another. In the fore portion of the ship's cargo space two middle-deck portions are folded vertically against one another, whereby they consume only little space. In this position the middle-deck portions are not in the way, when cargo is loaded on the bottom 40 of the ship's cargo space. The arrangement that allows the middle-deck portions to be moved from the vertical folded position to a horizontal position is not described in greater detail in this connection, because a person skilled in the art is able to provide an arrangement of this kind, and in addition, the arrangement is known per se. Typically, the arrangement is a hydraulic one comprising a plurality hydraulic cylinders and lever arms. The number of middle-deck portions 2 and the manner how they are hinged to one another may differ from what is described, depending on the ship. The middle- deck portions need not necessarily be hinged to one another.

[0023] The number of deck portions 4 and the manner how they are hinged to one another may differ from what is described, depending on the ship. The deck portions 4 need not necessarily be hinged to one another, but they may consist of separate weather-deck pontoons.

[0024] In Figure 2, a large number of reels 7 are loaded on the bottom 40 of the ship's cargo space. The reels 7 are placed on stands 8 that comprise a trough 9 for receiving the reels. The troughs 9 form a cradle for the reels 7.

[0025] A large number of reels 7 are also loaded on the middle deck 3 of the ship. The reels 7 are placed on similar stands 8 as those on the bottom 40 of the cargo space. The middle deck 3 is supported to rest on supports 90 on the walls of the ship's cargo space 1.

[0026] The number of stands 8 onboard a ship may vary. The reels 7 on the stands 8 are placed in alignment such that their axes are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the stand. On the bottom 40 of the cargo space there are stands 8, some of which are placed longitudinally in line and others are placed laterally side by side to form a row. The row(s) need not be "straight" (aligned). The troughs of the longitudinally aligned stands 8 are mutually in alignment, which allows the reel 7 to be placed on the stands such that it is supported by the aligned troughs of two aligned stands, whereby part of the reel weight will rest on the first stand and part (the remaining part) of the reel weight will rest on the second stand. Thanks to the presented solution the capacity of the stand 8 and the cargo space may be utilized better than in the case where the end of the stand would comprise an obstacle to prevent the reel from being loaded onto two stands.

[0027] The structure of the stands 8 intended for the reels appears from Figures 3 and 9 to 11.

[0028] Figure 3 shows two stands 8 placed on the ship's middle deck 3 side by side, seen longitudinally from the end of the stands. The trough 9 forms a continuous surface that continues throughout the length of the stand 8 (cf. Figure 10). The sidewalls 60 of the trough 9 form supporting surfaces that support the reels 7 laterally. The sidewalls 60 are formed such that they give optimal support to reels of various sizes, which is illustrated in the figures with circles drawn in different sizes. The diameter of the largest circle is about 2200 mm and that of the smallest one is about 1200 mm. The sidewalls 60 are at an angle of 100 degrees to one another.

[0029] Reference numeral 30 in Figure 3 denotes a longitudinal support 30 locating below the troughs 9 and extending from one end of the stand 8 to the other (cf. Figure 10). There are six pieces of these supports 30. The base structure of the stand 8 is denoted by reference numeral 50.

[0030] The stands 8 are secured to the mounting base below with a fastening arrangement that is generally denoted by reference numeral 10, see Figure 3. The mounting base may be the ship's middle deck 3 or the bottom 40 of the ship's cargo space 1. The detailed structure of the fastening arrangement 10 is not described in this connection. A recommendable fastening arrangement is the known locking arrangement that is commonly used in fastening conventional containers to the ship deck. All corners of the stand 8 comprise a fastening means 11 that is known and commonly used in fastening conventional containers to the ship deck. The fastening means 11 is part of said fastening arrangement 10 and also allows the stand 8 to be fastened to an adjacent stand 8. With the fastening means 11 it is also possible to interconnect superposed stands 8.

[0031] The sides, i.e. the flanks, of the stands 8 comprise lateral supports 12. The lateral supports 12 are destined to support the stand 8 and to convey horizontal forces against the adjacent stand and also to give support against the wall 13 of the cargo space in case that the stand would yield and/or move in lateral direction. The lateral supports 12 may be called buffer parts. The wall 13 of the cargo space may comprise a reinforcement (not shown) that prevents the wall 13 from being subjected to potential, high, surface pressure caused by the lateral support 12. The structure of the lateral support 12 may vary. Figure 4 shows a lateral support 12 consisting of a curved piece attached to the side of the stand 8, for instance, by welding. Figure 5 shows a second form of a lateral support 12A and Figure 6 illustrates the lateral support 12A of Figure 5 when attached to the side of the stand. Figure 7 shows a third form of a lateral support 12B and Figure 8 illustrates the lateral support 12B of Figure 7 when attached to the side of the stand.

[0032] All lateral supports of Figures 4, 5 and 7 comprise an inclined lateral surface 14, 14Aa, 14Ba which is directed upwardly and to the sides and which is able, when touching an obstacle (for instance a lateral support of another stand), to guide the stand 8 when it is lowered to its place with a lifting apparatus. The lateral supports 12, 12A, 12B also comprise inclined lateral surfaces 14Ab and 14Bb that are directed downwardly. The lateral support 12Bb of Figure 7 has an advantage that it comprises four guiding, inclined surfaces 14Ba, 14Bb, 14Bc and 14Bd and also a planar surface 15Bb, whereby a large linear load caused by a possible impact may be avoided. The number of lateral supports 12, 12A, 12B may vary. It appears from Figures 9 to 11 that there are three lateral supports 12 per side. One lateral support 12 is in the middle and the other two are located approximately between the end and the midpoint of the stand 8.

[0033] Instead of welding, the attachment of the lateral support 12 to the side of the stand 8 may be implemented with a bolt joint (or with other detachable fastening means), which is advantageously attached to the fastening means 11.

[0034] Figures 9 to 11 show a side view, a top view and a bottom view of the stand 8 of Figure 3. The length of the stand 8 is 40 feet, i.e about 12.2 metres, which corresponds to the length of a standard container (not shown). The width of the stand 8 is eight feet, i.e. about 2.4 metres, which corresponds to the width of a standard container. The height of the stand 8 is approximately one third of the height of a standard container, i.e. about 0.86 metres. Said dimensions make the application of the stand highly versatile. [0035] Both opposing sides of the stand 8 comprise eight fastening means 11 , whereby the base structure 50 of the stand comprises eight fastening means in total and the upper level comprises eight fastening means 11 in total. The fastening means 11 locating at the midpoint of either side of the stand 8 are at such a distance from one another that they allow a standard 20- foot container to be fastened to the stand 8 such that on top of or below the stand 8 it is possible to fasten two 20-foot standard containers. Said distance is about 0.4 metres. A possibility of fastening either 20-foot standard containers or a 40-foot standard container to the stand 8 is a highly advantageous feature of the stand, because it gives an option that empty stands, i.e. stands without reels, need not be detached and removed to storage because of the fact that there are containers and not reels to be transported. Thus, the ship may carry reels on the way out and containers on the way back without cumbersome, extra work steps as the stands 8 remain in place on the ship.

[0036] In Figure 10, reference numeral 16 denotes lifting points, at which an empty stand 8 may be lifted with a lifting apparatus 80 (known) intended for lifting reels, shown in Figure 16. The lifting points 16 are provided at halfway the length of the stand 8 at a mutual distance of about 1.7 metres. The distance between the lifting points 16 is relatively freely selectable. The lifting points may be at a mutual distance of about 0.8 to 2 metres, for instance. At the lifting points 16 there are through holes that extend through the stand 8. When the stand 8 is lifted with the reel lifting apparatus of Figure 16, grippers

17 (see Figure 14) of the reel lifting apparatus are inserted in the lifting points 16. The distance D between the grippers 17 is adjustable. Lifting protrusions

18 at the distal ends of the grippers 17 are placed in a counterpart (not shown) locating at the lifting point of the stand 8 and fitting on the lifting protrusions 18 of the grippers 17. The lifting protrusions 18 are retractable inside the grippers 17 such that they will not protrude, which facilitates insertion of the grippers 17 in the holes at the lifting points 16. The walls of the holes at the lifting points 16 may be supported to the grippers during lifting.

[0037] The vertical broken lines in Figure 9 indicate generally support structures 200 for supporting the trough 9. The stand 8 shown in the figures comprises fourteen support structures. The number of the support structures 200 and the longitudinal supports 30 therein may vary. The profile of the support structures 200 appears from Figure 12. The support structures 200 include lightened portions appearing as two triangles in Figure 12 and locating symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the stand 8.

[0038] It appears from Figure 10 that the upper end of the stand 8 comprises a large number of fastening points 20 for tying belts (not shown), which tying belts make sure that the reels (not shown in Figure 10) placed on the stand 8 will stay in place on the stand.

[0039] Figure 11 shows the stand 8 of the invention from below. It appears from the figure that the base structure 50 of the stand 8 comprises three supports 21 , 22, 23 in the longitudinal direction of the stand that extend from one end of the stand to the other. The longitudinal supports 21 to 23 are formed of an edged steel plate. In addition, the base structure 50 of the stand 8 comprises fourteen transverse supports 24 that are attached to the longitudinal supports 21 to 23 at intersections R, S and T, respectively. The supports 24 are at the bottom of the base structure 200.

[0040] Figures 13 to 15 illustrate that the supports 21 to 24 form a kind of planar, flexible yet relatively rigid, lattice structure and that the stand 8 bends under a load, when heavy reels 7 are placed thereon. The straight, broken line in Figure 15 and two curved, broken lines in Figure 13 illustrate that the stand bends when charged with heavy reels 7. Thanks to the bending of the stand the supports 21 to 24 form an elastic supporting surface A against the deck under the stand. In Figure 14, said supporting surface that is against the deck is marked with crossed lines. The size of the surface area of the supporting surface A depends on how heavily the stand 8 is loaded and also on the rigidity of the stand. An example of the rigidity of the stand 8 is that the size of the area A of the supporting surface is about 20 to 30% of the surface area of the base of the stand, when the stand 8 is loaded with a reel load of about 100 tons. It is assumed that the supporting surface A need not be larger than 80%, for instance, its size could be 20 to 80% of the surface area of the base of the stand. It may be considered that the supporting surface A shall be at least 5% and preferably at least 20% of the surface area of the base of the stand 8, when the stand is subjected to a reel load of about 100 tons. If the supporting surface A is too small, the desired result/support will not be achieved. It is to be assumed that a supporting surface A having a size of less than 1% of the surface area of the base of the stand 8 will not provide a sufficient support to the stand. The surface area of the base refers here to the area that the base occupies of the deck below. [0041] The supporting surface A constitutes a pressure equalizing surface against the deck below the stand 8. Thanks to the pressure equalizing surface the deck (the bottom of the cargo space or the middle deck) is not subjected to heavy, local loads, which would damage the deck. Hence, thanks to the pressure equalizing surface, the ship deck may be charged with heavier loads than without the pressure equalizing surface. The pressure equalizing surface also has an advantage that it provides a friction surface against the deck below that reduces the loads applied to the fastening arrangement 10, in particular the shearing stresses caused by the loads. Accordingly, the fastening arrangement 10 will hold without damage, even though the stands 8 would carry a very heavy reel load. On one stand 8 it is possible to place a load of about 160 tons, for instance eight reels that weigh 20 t individually. The empty weight of the stand 8 is about 6 tons. Naturally the stand 8 may be designed to hold even heavier loads. Instead of the reel lifting apparatus 80, the stand 8 may be alternatively lifted with a container lifter (not shown).

[0042] Figure 16 shows a known reel lifter 80 for lifting (loose reels). As stated above, the above-described stand 8 may be lifted empty (without reels) with the lifting apparatus of Figure 16 that may be called reel lifting grip- pers.

[0043] Figure 17 illustrates how to lift two juxtaposed stands 8 interconnected with a connecting arrangement 79. The connecting arrangement 79 locks the stands to one another. Locking may be said substantially clearance- free, even though it advantageously comprises a minor clearance, which enables the stands 8 to be placed on a slightly uneven deck without damaging the connecting arrangement. The grippers 17 of the lifting apparatus 80 are introduced to the lifting points (cf. reference numeral 16 in Figure 10) in the stands 8, the lifting points having counterparts for lifting protrusions 18 of the grippers 17, whereafter the stands may be lifted.

[0044] Figure 18 illustrates how to lift two superposed stands 8. The grippers 17 of the lifting apparatus, which is depicted in broken lines, are first inserted through the holes at the lifting points of the upper stand and then through the holes at the lifting points of the lower stand such that the grippers will be in the position presented in broken lines. Thereafter it is possible to lift both stands 8 simultaneously. [0045] It is also possible to consider that the lifting apparatus lifts four stands simultaneously, and in that case, prior to lifting, the stands may be arranged both in juxtaposition and in superposition.

[0046] The following describes briefly, how the above-described stands 8 and structures are used, when an empty ship is loaded with reels 7.

[0047] When an empty ship docks: a) an upper deck 5 of the ship is opened, b) a middle deck 3 of the ship is opened c) a plurality of empty stands 8 are placed on the bottom 40 of the cargo space by means of a crane, whereby the stands 8 are placed both longitudinally in alignment and side by side in a row, d) the stands 8 are fastened on the bottom 40 of the cargo space by means of a fastening arrangement 10, e) reels 7 are loaded on the stands 8 on the bottom 40 of the cargo space by means of a crane, f) the middle deck 3 is set back in place, g) a plurality of stands 8 without reels are placed on the ship's middle deck 3 by means of the crane, whereby the stands 8 are placed both longitudinally in alignment and side by side in a row, h) the stands 8 are fastened to the middle deck 3 by means of the fastening arrangement 10, i) reels 7 are loaded on the stands 8 on the middle deck 3 by means of a crane, and j) the upper deck 5 is closed.

[0048] When the ship is unloaded, the procedure takes place in reverse order.

[0049] Figures 19 to 27 show an alternative implementation in accordance with the invention to Figures 2 to 15.

[0050] Figure 19 shows a ship utilizing a stand 8', whose embodiment differs from the embodiment of the stand 8 in Figures 9 to 12. Figures 19 to 27 employ the same reference numerals as Figures 2 to 15 for the corresponding structures.

[0051] At both ends of the stands 8' in Figure 19 there is an end structure that comprises two corner poles whose free ends comprise a fastening means for receiving a container 150 that matches in length with the stand. Thanks to the fact that containers 150 may be loaded on top of the stands 8', the capacity of the cargo space will be efficiently utilized. The stands 8' may be like those in Figures 22 to 25, for instance.

[0052] Figure 20 illustrates how reels 7 have been loaded on the bottom 40' of the cargo space onboard the ship of Figure 19. In the figure, a number of stands 8' have been placed side by side. Reference numeral 140' denotes support pieces secured to the walls 13' of the cargo space. On top of the stands 8' there are standard-size containers 150'. The containers 150' may be 40-foot or 20-foot containers (Figure 22 shows a 20-foot container 150A'). Reference numerals 101a', 101b', 110a', 110b' indicate corner poles locating in the end structures 100', 170' of the stand 8' and intended for holding the containers 150', 15A' (see Figure 22). The free ends of the corner poles 101a', 101b', 110a', 110b' comprise fastening members 102a', 102b', 190a', 190b' for the fastening means 151 ' in the corners of the container 150' (see Figure 20). The containers 150' lock to the fastening members 102a', 102b' with a standard-type fastening system. For reinforcing the end structures 100', 170' the corner poles 101a', 101b', 110a', 110b' are connected by a horizontal brace 120'. The end structures 100', 170' may also comprise a lattice structure, for instance. The end structures 100', 170' may be implemented without the horizontal brace 120' and the lattice/cross-braced structure, if the corner poles 101a', 101b', 110a', 110b' are made sufficiently rigid.

[0053] The stands 8' are fastened with a fastening arrangement 10' to the mounting base below (see Figure 20). The mounting base is the bottom 40' of the ship's cargo space, but it could also be the ship's middle deck 3'. The fastening arrangement 10' may comprise, for instance, a fastening means 11' that is fastened to the corner of the stand 8' and that is lockable to the mounting base, whereby a locking means is concerned. The stand 8' will be connected to an adjacent stand 8' by means of a connecting arrangement 79' shown Figure 21 , for instance.

[0054] The connecting arrangement 79' of Figure 21 may also be used, when two adjacent empty stands 8' are to be lifted simultaneously with a crane (cf. Figure 17). Thanks to the connecting arrangement 79' an individual stand 8' fastened to the mounting base/deck will not overturn in rough seas due to excessive rolling, because the adjacent stand produces a force that prevents excessive rolling and thus holds the stands in place.

[0055] Reference numerals 19' and 22' in Figure 20 indicate two longitudinal supports locating below the troughs 9' and extending from one end of the stand 8' to the other (see also Figure 25 showing the stand 8' from below). The longitudinal supports 19', 22', which are advantageously inclined struts as shown in the figures, extend from the sidewalls 60' of the trough 9' up to the longitudinal supports 21', 23' at the edges of the base structure 50' of the stand 8', and consequently they convey the weight of the reels 7 onto said longitudinal supports. From the longitudinal supports 21 ', 23' the weights of the reels 7 are transferred to the ship deck below via the base structure 50' of the stand 8'.

[0056] Figures 22 to 25 show a side view, an end view, a top view and a bottom view of the stand 8' of Figure 20. The length of the stand 8' is 40 feet and the width is eight feet, which corresponds the width of a standard container. The height of the stand 8 is about 2.59 metres, when the corner poles 101a', 101b' and 110a', 110b' are in upright position.

[0057] It appears from Figures 22 and 24 that at halfway the length of the stands 8' there are two pairs of centre poles 107a', 107b' and 109a', 109b'. At the upper end of the centre pole pairs 107a', 107b', 109a', 109b' there is a horizontal support 120' (see Figures 23 and 24). Each of the free ends of the centre poles 107a', 107b', 109a', 109b' comprise a fastening member 111a', 111b' and 112a', 112b' for receiving the first container 150' and the second container (not shown in the figure), the length of the containers being half of the length of the stand 8'. One of the containers (container 150' in Figure 22) is supported to the corner poles 101a', 101b' at the first (left) end of the stand and to the first pair of centre poles 107a', 107b'.

[0058] By means of a link arrangement M' the corner poles 101a', 101b' and 110a', 110b' of the stand 8' are collapsible from upright position to horizontal position and back to the upright position (see Figure 22).

[0059] Like the corner poles 101a', 101b', the centre pole pairs 107a', 107b' and 109a', 109b' are linked by means a link arrangement N' and inclined struts 134a, 134b, 154a, 154b to an upper level of the stand 8.

[0060] Reference numerals 104a', 104b', 114a', 114b', 134a', 134b', 154a', 154b' indicate inclined struts of the corner poles 101a', 101b', 110a', 110b' and the centre poles 107a', 107b', which inclined struts are arranged inside the outline defined by the corner poles of the stand 8.

[0061] When one end of the inclined struts 104a', 104b', 114a', 114b', 134a', 134b', 154a', 154b' is released (detached), the inclined struts may be turned to horizontal position. [0062] In Figure 22, the end structure 170' together with the corner poles 110a', 110b' at the right end of the stand are turned to horizontal position and the other ends of the inclined struts 114a', 114b' are secured to the lower corner of the stand, advantageously to a point where a fastening means 11 ' is located.

[0063] The links of the link arrangements M', N' are advantageously links of pin-and-hole type, because they are easily openable and lockable. The above-described arrangement makes it possible to utilize the whole length of the trough 9' of the stand 8' for the reels 7.

[0064] When the corner poles 110a', 110b' and the centre poles 109a', 109b' are turned to upright position, a second container (not shown in Figure 22) may be supported thereto.

[0065] It is possible to connect conventional container fastening means to the fastening members 102a', 102b', 111a¹, 111b', 112a', 112b', 190a', 190b' of the corner poles 101a', 101b', 110a', 110b' and the centre poles 107a', 107b', 109a', 109b', and thus they may considered to correspond to the fastening means 11' of the bottom structure 50' of the stand.

[0066] Also, when the corner poles 101a', 101b', 110a', 110b' and the centre pole pairs 107a¹, 107b¹, 109a¹, 109b¹ are collapsed to horizontal position, a container may be placed thereon. For this purpose, the upper level of the stand 8' comprises fastening points 117a', 117b', 118a', 118b' for receiving the fastening points of the container corners. Thus, in the situation depicted in Figure 22 (i.e. when the poles 109a', 109b' and 110a', 110b' in the right-hand half of the stand are in horizontal position) it is possible to fasten a standard 20-foot container on the right-hand half of the stand.

[0067] The height of the stand 8', when the corner poles 101a', 101b', 110a', 110b' are in horizontal position, is about one third of the height of the standard container, i.e. about 0.85 m. Said dimensions makes the use of the stand highly versatile.

[0068] In the stand 8' of Figure 22 the number of support structures 200' supporting the trough 9' is ten. The number of the support structures 200' may vary.

[0069] Figure 25 shows the stand 8' of the invention from below. The base structure 50' of the stand 8' comprises two supports 21 ' and 23' at the edges in the longitudinal direction of the stand. In addition, the stand 8' comprises longitudinal supports 19', 22' below the trough. The base structure 50' is elastic but yet relatively rigid. Figures 26 and 27 illustrate in an exaggerated manner, how the stand 8' bends/yields under a load, i.e. when heavy reels 7 are placed thereon. The longitudinal supports 21' and 23' constitute an elastic supporting surface A' against the deck under the stand. The supporting surface A' is marked with crossed lining.

[0070] The supporting surface A' and the previously mentioned support pieces 140' placed against the walls 13' of the cargo space reduce the shearing stresses, to which the fastening arrangements of the stands 8' are subjected.

[0071] Even though the stand 8' bends under the load of the reels 7, bending is so insignificant that the corner poles 101a', 101b' and the other centre pole pairs 107a', 107b', 109a', 109b' remain substantially upright. If necessary, it is possible to fine adjust the poles 101a', 101b', 107a', 107b', 109a', 109b' such that they will be sufficiently upright to be able to receive the container(s).

[0072] On the sides, i.e. flanks, of the stands there are advantageously detachable lateral supports 12', cf. Figures 4, 5, 7 and 29. In the stand 8' of Figures 23 to 25, the lateral supports 12' are arranged at the midpoints of one flank and the corners of the stand, advantageously at the fastening means 11'. The lateral supports 12' support the stand 8' to an adjacent stand or against a support piece 140' on the wall 13' of the cargo space, see Figure 20, in the case that the stand would yield and/or move laterally. The wall 13' of the cargo space may comprise a reinforcement (not shown) at the support piece 140'. The other flank of the stand 8' may also comprise lateral supports.

[0073] Like the stand 8, the stand 8' may be lifted empty (without reels) with the lifting apparatus of Figure 16.

[0074] The stand 8' of Figures 20 to 25 is employed in the same way as the stand 8' of Figures 3 to 12 with the difference that containers 150' are additionally loaded on top of the stands 8' locating on the bottom 40' of the ship's cargo space.

[0075] Figure 28 shows a number of stands 8a' to 8f of Figures 22 to 25 placed transversely in a row on the bottom 40' of the ship's cargo space. Instead of the bottom 40', the mounting base may alternatively be the ship's middle deck. Advantageously a plurality of stands 8a' to 8f are arranged longitudinally in alignment. [0076] The stands 8a' to 8f are fastened (corresponding to the arrangements in Figures 3 and 20) to the conventional fastening points 25', in the form of cavities or recesses, intended for containers and locating on the bottom 40' of the cargo space. The distance between the fastening points 25' are ship-specific such that the stands (or containers) fastened thereto will be placed with slightly different mutual spacing.

[0077] In the arrangement of Figure 28, the stands 8a' to 8f are interconnected in pairs by means of a connecting arrangement 79' of Figure 21 : stand 8a' is connected to stand 8b', stand 8c' is connected to stand 8d' and stand 8e' is connected to stand 8f . Advantageously the connecting arrangement 79' is of the type which allows the adjacent stands to be placed at a desired distance from one another to correspond to the ship-specific mutual distance of the fastening points 25' of the stands on the bottom 40' (and middle deck 3') of the ship's cargo space 1. This is implemented by dimensioning the components of the connecting arrangement 79' for the desired distance between the stands, or alternatively, by providing the connecting arrangement to be adjustable in the lateral direction. The connecting arrangement 79' allows the adjacent stands to be placed also on a deck that is not completely even. For this purpose the connecting arrangement 79' comprises, in practice, a minor clearance or it is made slightly elastic so that it would not get damaged. Nevertheless, the connecting arrangement 79' may be said to be substantially clearance-free.

[0078] It appears from Figure 28 that on the flanks, i.e. sides, of each pair of stands there are buffer parts 12', i.e. lateral supports, which are attached to the fastening means 11 ' in the lower corners of the stands 8a' to 8f . The attachement of the buffer means 12' to the fastening means 11' is implemented with a bolt joint (or other detachable fastening means), cf. Figure 29. Buffer part 12' may be additionally placed at the mid-length of the stands 8. The buffer parts 12' convey horizontal forces to an adjacent stand and therethrough, and optionally also through other stands, to support pieces 140' that are placed against the walls 13a' and 13b' of the cargo space. The support pieces 140', which may be called fitting pieces, may be arranged in a fixed manner, for instance by welding to the walls 13a', 13b'. Alternatively, they may be detachable. The latter attachment may be implemented with a bolt joint, for instance. The detachable support pieces 140' have an advantage that they may be readily detached, if need be, so that they will not be in the way in the cargo space irrespective of cargo type. Detachability also enables use of support pieces 140' of various widths, should such a need arise.

[0079] The structure and shape of the buffer part 12' may be in accordance with Figure 29. The body of the buffer part 12' consists of a piece whose lower end comprises an inclined first guide surface 14a', which when touching an obstacle (for instance a buffer part 12' of another stand or a support piece on the wall of the cargo space) is able to guide the stand 8' when it is lowered down into place with a crane. The buffer part 12' also comprises, at is upper end, an inclined guide surface 14b", which is able to guide another stand that may touch the guide surface 14b' while being lowered down. In addition, the buffer part 12' comprises a spindle 26' whose distal end has a transverse portion 27' that may be inserted in an oval opening 28' in the fastening means 11' of the container and turned to a position, where it will remain behind the edges of the opening 28. In this position the body of the buffer part 12' may be tightened with a screw 29' or the like tightening means against the fastening means 11'.

[0080] Conventional containers 150' are placed on top of the corner poles 101' of the stands 8a' and 8b' in Figure 28.

[0081] Figures 30 and 31 illustrate the operation of the fastening arrangement in the shipping arrangement according to the invention.

[0082] Figure 30 illustrates a situation that prevails in harbour, when the ship, prior to leaving, is loaded with reels 7 in the manner shown in Figure 28. The stands 8a' to 8c' are interconnected in pairs at a distance U' from one another and fastened to the deck 40' in a conventional manner, whereby at the fasteneing points 25' of the stands there is a clearance that allows the stands 8a' to 8c' (also stands 8d' to 8f of Figure 28) to move laterally to the right or to the left in rough seas. The size of the clearance depends on the fastening means 31' used and it is about 10 mm, for instance. If the clearance is about 10 mm, the stands 8a' to 8f may move to the left for about 5 mm and to the right for about 5 mm, in case the stands 8a' to 8f are fastened to the middle of the fastening points 25' as shown in Figure 30.

[0083] The thicknesses, K and N, of the buffer parts 12' and the support pieces 140', respectively, are selected such that if the stands 8a' to 8f should move in the storm to the left with respect to the deck 40', the stand row consisting of stands 8a' to 8f would impact on the support piece 140' on the wall 13a' before the available clearance around the fastening means 31 ' at the fastening points 25' of the stands is finished. The same applies, if the stands 8a' to 8f move in the storm to the right, i.e. a stand row consisting of stands impacts on the support piece 140' on the wall 13b' (see Figure 28) before the available clearance around the fastening means 31' at the fastening point 25' of the stands is finished. The distance V between the interconnected stand pairs is arranged to be shorter than the available clearance around the fastening means 31'. Thanks to said arrangement, great horizontal forces are applied to the support pieces 140' and through them to the walls of the cargo space, and hence not so great force is applied to the fastening means 31' of the stands 8a' to 8f, the fastening means 11 ' or the fastening points 25' that they would break. If the horizontal movement of the stands 8a' to 8f were not stopped by the walls 13a', 13b' of the cargo space before the available clearance of the fastening points of the stands is finished, the conventional fastening means 31' would get damaged.

[0084] Figure 31 illustrates a situation, where the stands 8a' to 8f in a stand row have moved horizontally to the left in relation to the deck 40' below and bumped to one another and to the support piece 140' on the wall 13a' of the cargo space by means of the buffer parts 12' before the available clearance to the left around the fastening means of any of the stands 8a' to 8f is finished. Correspondingly, the stand row may move to the right such that it bumps to the support piece 140' on the opposite wall 13b' of the cargo space (cf. Figure 28).

[0085] In practice, the width (thickness) of the buffer parts 12' and the support pieces 140' is selected ship-specifically, because when the stands 8a' to 8f are placed side by side on the bottom 40' of the cargo space or on the middle deck 3', empty space will form between the stands. Between the stands and the walls of the cargo space there will also form empty space. Said empty spaces will be sufficiently reduced by means of the buffer parts 12' and the support pieces 140'.

[0086] In the arrangement of Figures 28 to 31 , the stands 8a' to 8f are fastened both to the bottom 40' of the ship's cargo space and to the middle deck 3. Buffer parts 12' of appropriate sizes are placed on the sides of the stands 8a to 8f, whereafter reels 7 are loaded on the stands 8a' to 8f by means of a crane.

[0087] In the above the invention has been described by means of examples, and therefore it is to be noted that the details of the invention may be implemented in a variety of ways within the scope of the attached claims and the inventive idea. Thus, the structure and the size of the supporting surface A may vary. In order to provide a supporting surface it is not necessary that the stand would be subjected to a large reel load (e.g. 100 tons), but it may be considered that the stand bends by its own weight in the cargo space against the deck below. Unlike what is described above (use of inclined struts), the vertical support of the upright, collapsible poles may be implemented such that the lower ends of the poles are hinged to lock in the upright position by a spring-loaded locking mechanism known per se. The length and width of the stand may correspond to those of a standard 20-foot container. The height of the stand is about one third of the height of a standard container. The end structures 100', 170' and the centre poles 107a', 107b', 109a', 109b' need not be hinged/collapsible to horizontal position, but they may be rigid upright structures, even though the hinging enables efficient piling of empty stands and containers and hence more efficient utilization of the cargo hold. It may be considered that instead of the solutions described above, the hinging is implemented utilizing solutions disclosed in publication DE 3246331 A1.

[0088] The end structures 100', 170' of the stand 8' may be closed or open. The open end structure 100', 170' has an advantage that it allows full utilization of the length of the stand's trough, because the reel may be placed in the stand such that it will be partly supported the trough portion at the end of the stand and it will also be partly supported by a trough portion at the end of another stand, the stands being mutually aligned such that the troughs form, in practice, a continuous, long trough.

[0089] Specification of reference numerals used in the figures and the claims: Reference numeral Name/description

1 cargo space

2, 2' middle-deck portion

3, 3' middle deck (mounting base), deck

4, 4" deck portion of cargo space 1 ("upper deck portion")

5, 5¹ upper deck portion of cargo space 1 (ship's "weather deck")

6 stowage and storage space

7 reel , 8\ 8a¹ - 8f ' stand , 9¹ cradle, trough 0, 10' fastening arrangement for fastening stand 8, 8'1 , 11' fastening means 2, 12A₁ 12B, 12' buffer part (lateral support) on sides of stand 8, 8'3, 13a', 13b' wall of cargo space 1 4, 14Aa, 14Ab, 14Ba, 4Bb, 14Bc, 14Bd, 14a¹, 4b' inclined side surface in lateral supports (buffer parts) 5b planar surface of lateral support (buffer part) 12B6, 16' lifting points in stand 8, 8' 7 grippers of reel lifting apparatus 8 lifting protrusion of grippers 17 9' longitudinal support below trough 9' 0, 20' fastening points for tying belts 1 , 21' longitudinal support on the edge of stand 8, 8' 2, 22' longitudinal support below trough 9, 9' 3, 23' longitudinal support on the edge of stand 8, 8' 4, 24' transverse support in base structure 50, 50' 5' fastening point of stand 8' 6' spindle 7' transverse portion in spindle 26' 8' hole in fastening means 11' 9' nut 0 longitudinal supports below trough 9 1' fastening means for fastening the fastening means 11 ,

11 ' of stand 8' to deck/bottom 0, 40' bottom of cargo space 1 0, 50' base structure of stand 8, 8' 0, 60' sidewalls of trough 9 9, 79' connecting arrangement 0 reel lifter 0, 90' support on the wall of cargo space 1 00' end structure with corner poles 101a', 101b' 01', 101a', 101b' corner poles in end structure 100' 102a¹, 102b¹ fastening members at free ends of corner poles 101a' and 101b¹

104a¹, 104b¹ inclined struts of corner poles 101a¹, 101b¹

107a¹, 107b¹ (first) centre poles at midpoint of stand 8¹

109a¹, 109b¹ (second) centre poles at midpoint of stand 8¹

110a¹, 110b¹ corner poles in end structure 170'

111a¹, 111b¹ fastening members at free ends of centre poles 107a¹,

107b¹ 112a¹, 112b¹ fastening members at free ends of centre poles 109¹,

109b¹

114a¹, 114b¹ inclined struts of corner poles 110a', 11 Ob¹

117a¹, 117b¹, 118a¹,

118b¹ fastening points for receiving container 150'

120' horizontal support of corner poles 101a¹, 101b¹, 110a¹,

110b¹, and centre poles 107a¹, 107b¹, 109a¹, 109b' 134a', 134b¹ inclined struts of centre poles 107a¹, 107b¹

140, 140' support piece on wall 13, 13', 13a¹, 13b' of cargo space

15O¹ container

151 ' fastening member in corners of container 150¹

154a¹, 154b¹ inclined struts of centre poles 109a', 109b¹

170' end structure with corner poles 110a¹, 110b¹

190a¹, 190b' fastening members at free ends of corner poles 110a',

110b'

200, 200' support structure for supporting trough 9, 9'

A, A¹ supporting surface

D' distance between grippers 17

J' travel

K¹ thickness of buffer part 12'

L' thickness of support piece 140'

M' link points of corner poles 101a', 101b¹, 11 Oa", 110b'

N' link points of centre poles 107a", 107b¹, 109a', 109b'

R¹ intersecting point

S¹ intersecting point

T' intersecting point

U' distance V distance.

Claims

1. A method for loading reels (7) onboard a ship, which method employs a stand (8, 8') whose length and width correspond to the size of a standard container and which stand comprises a base structure (50, 50'), a cradle (9, 9') for receiving at least one reel (7) and supporting surfaces (60, 60') for supporting the reel in lateral direction, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a) opening an upper deck (5, 5') of the ship, b) opening a middle deck (3, 3') of the ship c) using in loading a stand (8, 8') whose base structure (50, 50') comprises an elastic supporting surface (A, A') for supporting the stand against a deck (3, 40, 3', 40') in the ship's cargo space (1), the rigidity of the stand being designed such that the base structure is arranged to yield elastically an amount that makes the base structure of the stand to bend against the deck and the elastic supporting surface forms a pressure equalizing surface against the deck, when the stand is loaded with reels (7), d) placing a plurality of these stands (8, 8') without reels on the bottom (40, 40') of the ship's cargo space by means of a crane, whereby the stands (8, 8') are placed both longitudinally in alignment and side by side in a row, e) fastening the stands (8, 8') on the bottom (40, 40') of the cargo space by means of a fastening arrangement (10, 10'), the fastening arrangement comprising fastening means (11 , 11 ') arranged in the corners of the base structures (50, 50'), f) loading reels (7) on the stands (8, 8') on the bottom (40, 40') of the cargo space by means of a crane, g) resetting the middle deck (3, 3') in place, h) placing a plurality of stands (8, 8') without reels on the ship's middle deck (3, 3') by means of the crane, whereby the stands are placed both longitudinally in alignment and side by side in a row, i) fastening the stands (8, 8') to the middle deck (3, 3') by means of the fastening arrangement (10, 10'), the fastening arrangement comprising fastening means (11 , 11') arranged in the corners of the base structures (50, 50') of the stands, j) loading reels (7) on the stands (8, 8') on the middle deck (3, 3') by means of a crane, and j) closing the upper deck (5, 5').

2. The method of claim 1, characterized by using stands (8, 8') whose cradle (9, 9') consists of a trough extending from one end of the stand to the other in the longitudinal direction of the stand, which trough is open at both ends, and the stand is also open at the opposing ends, whereby when aligning the stands (8, 8') longitudinally, the stands are placed against one another to form a substantially continuous trough, the length of the trough corresponding to the total length of the trough of two stands.

3. The method of claim ^characterized by using stands (8') whose first end and second end each has an end structure (100', 170') that comprises two corner poles (101a⁷, 101b', 110a', 110b') whose free ends comprise a fastening means (102a¹, 102b', 190a', 190b') for receiving a container (150') that corresponds in length to the stand such that two corners at the end of the container lock to the locking means (102a¹, 102b', 190a', 190b'), whereby, between method steps f) and h), containers (150') are loaded on the stands on the bottom (40') of the cargo space by placing them on top of the corner poles (101a', 101b', 110a', 110b') of the stands.

4. A stand to be used in loading reels onboard a ship, transporting them onboard a ship and unloading them from the ship, the stand (8, 8') comprising a base structure (50, 50'), a cradle (9, 9') for receiving a reel (7) and supporting surfaces (60, 60') for supporting the reel in the lateral direction and each corner of the base structure (50, 50') of the stand being provided with a fastening means (11, 11') for fastening the stand with a fastening arrangement (10, 10') to fastening points (25') of a deck in the ship's cargo space, characterized in that the base structure (50, 50') of the stand (8, 8') comprises an elastic supporting surface (A, A') for supporting the stand against the deck (3, 40, 3', 40') in the ship's cargo space (1), the rigidity of the stand being designed such that the base structure is arranged to yield elastically an amount that makes the base structure of the stand to bend against the deck and the elastic supporting surface forms a pressure equalizing surface against the deck, when the stand is loaded with reels (7).

5. The stand of claim 4, characterized in that the size of the supporting surface (A, A') is at least 1% of the surface area of the base of the stand (8, 8') when the stand is subjected to a reel load of 100 tons.

6. The stand of claim 4, characterized in that the size of the supporting surface (A, A') is at least 5% of the surface area of the base of the stand (8, 8') when the stand is subjected to a reel load of 100 tons.

7. The stand of claim 4, characterized in that under the cradle (9') of the stand (8') there are longitudinal supports (19', 22') that extend from one end of the stand to the other and from the support surfaces (60') of the cradle (9') of the stand to longitudinal supports (21', 23') on edges of the base structure (50') of the stand and that are arranged to convey the weight of the reels (7) to the longitudinal supports (21', 23') on the edges, which longitudinal supports constitute at least part of the elastic supporting surface (A').

8. The stand of claim 4, characterized in that the length and the width of the stand (8, 8') correspond to the dimensions of a standard container.

9. The stand of claim 8, characterized in that the height of the stand (8') is about 30% of the height of a standard container.

10. The stand of claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the stand (8, 8') comprises lifting points (16, 16'), to which a lifting means (17) of a crane is connectable by guiding the lifting means through holes extending through the stand, the lifting points being provided at halfway the length of the stand at a distance from one another symmetrically on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the stand.

11. The stand of any one of the preceding claims 4 to 9, character i z e d in that the first end and the second end of the stand (8') each has an end structure (100', 170') comprising two corner poles (101a¹, 101b', 110a', 110b') whose free ends comprise a fastening member (102a', 102b', 190a', 190b') for receiving a container that corresponds in length to the stand such that two corners at the end of the container (150') lock to the fastening members (102a', 102b', 190a', 190b').

12. The stand of any one of the preceding claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the lower edges of each long side of the stand (8, 8') comprise four fastening means (11, 11'), including the fastening means in the lower corners of the stand, that the upper edges of each long side of the stand (8, 8') comprise four fastening means (11, 11'), including the fastening means in the upper corners of the stand, whereby the mutual distance between the fastening means of the upper level is additionally such that two, standard 20- foot containers (150A') may be fastened on the stand (8, 8').

13. The stand of any one of the preceding claims 5 to 12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the cradle (9, 9') of the stand (8, 8') consists of a trough in the longitudinal direction of the stand, the trough extending from one end of the stand to the other and being open such that the stand is open at opposing ends.

14. A shipping arrangement for shipping reels (7), the shipping arrangement comprising a first stand (8') according to any one of the preceding claims 4 to 13 and the fastening arrangement (10') for fastening the stand on the deck (40') of the ship's cargo space (1') alongside a first wall (13a') of the ship's cargo space, the fastening means in each corner of the base structure (50') of the stand being arranged to fasten the stand with a clearance to the fastening points (25') of the deck (3', 40') in the ship's cargo space, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the fastening arrangement also comprises:

- support pieces (140') placed against the first wall (13a¹) and a second wall (13b') of the ship's cargo space (1'), the second wall being opposite to the first wall (13a') in the cargo space,

- a second stand (8f ) for loading reels (7) onboard a ship and transporting them onboard a ship, the second stand being fastened in the corresponding manner as the first stand (8a") to the fastening points (25") of the cargo space deck (3', 40') alongside the second wall (13b¹) of the ship's cargo space,

- other stands (8b' to 8e') arranged side by side in the ship's cargo space (1) for loading reels (7) onboard the ship and transporting them onboard the ship, the other stands (8b' to 8e') being fastened in the corresponding manner as the first stand (8a¹) and the second stand (8f ) to the fastening points (25") of the cargo space deck (3¹, 40'),

- buffer parts (12, 12A, 12B, 12') attached to flanks of the first stand (8a'), the second stand (8f ) and the other stands (8b' to 8e'), whereby in the fastening arrangement the width of the support pieces (140') and the buffer parts is selected ship-specifically in accordance with the mutual distances between the fastening points (25') in the deck (3', 40') of the ship's cargo space and the distance between the first wall (13a¹) and the second wall (13b¹) of the ship's cargo space such that i) movement, if any, of the first stand (8a¹) within the limits allowed by its fastening means (11') and clearances in the fastening points (25') makes the stand hit, depending on the direction of the lateral movement of the first stand, the support piece (140') placed against the first wall (13a¹) of the ship's cargo space or makes the second stand (8f) hit the support piece (140') placed against the second wall (13b¹) of the ship's cargo space by intermediary of the other stands (8b' to 8e') and the buffer parts (12, 12A, 12B, 12') thereof, ii) movement, if any, of the second stand (8f) within the limits allowed by its fastening means (11') and clearances in the fastening points (25') makes the stand hit, depending on the direction of the lateral movement of the second stand, the support piece (140') placed against the second wall (13b¹) of the ship's cargo space or makes the second stand hit the support piece (140') placed against the first wall (13a¹) of the ship's cargo space by intermediary of the other stands (8b' to 8e') and the buffer parts (12, 12A, 12B, 12') thereof, iii) movement, if any, of one of the other stands (8b' to 8e') within the limits allowed by its fastening means (11') and clearances in the fastening points (25') makes the first stand (8a') hit, depending on the direction of the movement of the other stand, the support piece (140') placed against the first wall (13a') of the ship's cargo space or makes the second stand (8f) hit the support piece (140') placed against the second wall (13b') of the ship's cargo space by intermediary of the buffer parts (12, 12A, 12B, 12') of the other stands (8b' to 8e'), and

- base structures (50') of the first stand (8a¹), the second stand (8f) and the other stands (8b' to 8e') constitute part of the fastening arrangement, which base structures comprise an elastic supporting surface (A') for supporting the stands (8a' to 8f) against the deck (3', 40') in the ship's cargo space, the rigidity of the stands being designed such that the base structures are arranged to yield elastically an amount that makes the base structures of the stands to bend against the deck (3', 40') and the elastic supporting surface forms a pressure equalizing surface against the deck, when the stands (8a' to 8f ) are loaded with reels (7).

15. The shipping arrangement of claim 14, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the buffer part (12, 12A, 12B, 12') comprises a lower, inclined first guiding surface (14Aa, 14Ba, 14a') and an upper, inclined second guiding surface (14Ab, 14Bb, 14b').

16. The shipping arrangement of claim 14, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the buffer part (12, 12A, 12B, 12') is detachably secured to the side of the stand (8a' to 8f ).

17. The shipping arrangement of claim 14, characterized in that the support piece (140') is detachably arranged against the first wall (13a¹) and the second wall (13b¹) of the ship's cargo space.

18. The shipping arrangement of claim 14, characterized in that the adjacent stands are interconnected in pairs (8a' and 8b¹, 8c' and 8d', 8e' and 8f ) by means of a connecting arrangement (79').

19. The shipping arrangement of claim 18, characterized in that the connecting arrangement (79') is adjustable for placing adjacent stands at an adjustable distance from one another.

20. The shipping arrangement of claim 14, characterized in that the length and the width of the stands (8a' to 8f) correspond to the dimensions of a standard container (150').