WO2014096508A1

WO2014096508A1 - Support element for supporting containers to be transported on a cargo ship, container for transporting freight on a cargo ship, method for supporting a container and a lashing bridge for supporting a container

Info

Publication number: WO2014096508A1
Application number: PCT/FI2012/051292
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan Bergman; Juhana ÖSTBERG; Marcus EJDERSTEN; Magnus AHLSTRÖM
Original assignee: Mcgregor finland oy
Priority date: 2012-12-21
Filing date: 2012-12-21
Publication date: 2014-06-26
Also published as: TW201433524A

Abstract

Support element (5) for supporting containers (1) to a lashing bridge (4) or a corresponding structure of a cargo ship during sea transport, which support element (5) is installed in at least one corner casting of the end of a container (1). The invention is characterized in that the support element (5) ex- tends in the longitudinal direction of the container (1) to a distance from the end of the container, forming a longitudinal extension of the container (1), and in that when the container (1) is in its position on the ship the support element (5) extends to a support surface of the lashing bridge supporting the support element in a crosswise direction of the container.

Description

SUPPORT ELEMENT FOR SUPPORTING CONTAINERS TO BE TRANSPORTED ON A CARGO SHIP, CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORTING FREIGHT ON A CARGO SHIP, METHOD FOR SUPPORTING A CONTAINER AND A LASHING BRIDGE FOR SUP- PORTING A CONTAINER

The object of the present invention is a support element for supporting containers to a lashing bridge or a corresponding structure of a cargo ship during sea transport, which support element is installed in at least one corner casting of the end of a container. The object of the invention is also a container provided with a support element as well as a method for supporting a container during sea transport. Further, the object of the invention is a lashing bridge for supporting containers during sea transport.

On a cargo ship, containers are generally transported below deck and on deck in a number of rows and lines and also in a number of layers one on top of each other. Below deck are guide rails, on which the containers are supported when at sea. On deck are detachable hatch covers, with which the cargo hold below is closed. The containers above deck are transported on top of the hatch covers. The support structures on deck, e.g. lashing bridges, for the containers must be installed at such a distance from each other that the hatch cover can, in connection with unloading and loading the cargo of the ship, be removed and lowered back with a crane. As a result of this, more space than desirable remains between the containers and the lashing bridge. After the containers have been loaded onto the ship, at least some of the containers that are on deck are connected at their ends to a lashing bridge or to the deck of the ship with lashing bars and turnbuckles. Each lashing bar is connected at one of its ends to one corner of a container and at the other end to a turnbuckle, which in turn is connected at its other end to a lashing bridge or to the deck of the ship. The connection is tightened by rotating the turnbuckle. The prior-art support method for containers requires a lot of manual work and personnel. In addition, the work is dangerous. Fixing procedures with this method are, of course, also time-consuming. In addition, a system must be separately constructed for each ship and for different container heights.

When a ship arrives in port, at first there is a delay in unloading the cargo because the lashing bars must be detached from the containers before cranes are able to start lifting the containers from the ship onto the shore. Correspondingly a delay occurs in the departure of the ship because after the containers have been lifted onto the ship, they must still be manually fastened with lashing bars and turnbuckles. Another drawback of prior art is that the parts required are expensive and require regular maintenance. A prior-art solution also generates unwanted forces in the longitudinal and vertical directions in lashing bridges and hatch covers. These forces must be compensated with heavy structures.

The aim of the current invention is to achieve a new type of support element for supporting containers during sea transport. With the support element it has been possible to eliminate the drawbacks occurring in prior art. The support element according to the invention is characterized in that the support element extends in the longitudinal direction of the container to a distance from the end of the container, forming a longitudinal extension of the container, and in that when the container is in its position on the ship the support element extends to a support surface of the lashing bridge supporting the support element in a crosswise direction of the container.

The support element according to one preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the support element extends into a recess in the lashing bridge, which recess forms in the lashing bridge between the vertical guide rails. The support element according to one preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a recess has been made in the end of the support element, whereby a guide rail extends into the recess of the support element in order to achieve the support in lateral direction of the containers.

The support element according to one preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that support elements are installed in both ends of a container.

The support element according to one preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that support elements are installed in a container before lifting the container onto the ship. Yet another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the support element is a piece that extends to a distance from the end of the container and that is detachably fixed to one corner casting of the container. Further, the aim of the current invention is to achieve a new container. The new container is characterized in that to one or both ends of the container at least one support element according to claims 1-12 is rigidly or detachably fixed, which support element functions as a longitudinal extension of the container.

Further, the aim of the current invention is to achieve a method for supporting a container during sea transport on a cargo ship. The method is characterized in that in at least one end of the container at least one support element according to any of claims 1-11 is in- stalled, which support element is supported on the lashing bridge at least in the lateral direction during sea transport.

Still a further aim of the current invention is to achieve a new lashing bridge for supporting containers during sea transport on a car- go ship. The lashing bridge is characterized in that support surfaces have been arranged in the lashing bridge for supporting the containers in their crosswise direction by preventing the sideways movement of a support element according to any of claims 1-12 fixed to the containers.

One of the advantages of the invention that can be mentioned is that it is composed of fewer components than earlier solutions. In addition, the system does not have turnbuckles or lashing bars and has no manual work related to these either. Owing to this the work safety of stevedores improves. Savings are achieved as the time- consuming handling of lashing bars and turnbuckles is avoided. Smaller vertical and longitudinal forces are exerted on the lashing bridge, and it can therefore be made to be more lightweight and more compact than conventional lashing bridges.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by the aid of some preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 presents an end view of a fixing method for containers according to prior art.

Fig. 2 presents a container, which is provided with a support element according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 presents a side view of containers stacked between lashing bridges on top of a hatch cover.

Fig. 4 presents a top view of the containers.

Fig. 5 presents an axonometric view of stacked containers.

Fig. 6 presents support elements, fixed to a container, according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 7 presents the embodiment according to Fig. 6 nometrically and stacked between lashing bridges.

Fig. 8 presents a top view of a container/a container stack provided with support elements according to Fig.

6.

Fig. 9 presents the same as Figs. 7 and 8, but viewed from side of the containers.

Fig. 1 thus presents a fixing method/support method for containers 1 according to the state of the art. The reference number 2 presents lashing bars, which are fixed into the apertures in the corner castings of the containers. Further, the reference number 3 presents turnbuckles, in which the second end of the lashing bars 2 are installed. The second end of the turnbuckles 3 is in turn fixed to a lashing bridge 4. The fixing can be tightened by rotating the turnbuckle. It is also possible to fix a turnbuckle to other structures of the ship, such as to the deck, instead of a lashing bridge. This turnbuckle-lashing bar fixing is performed manually on a cargo ship.

The invention thus relates to the supporting of containers, particularly above a hatch cover on the deck of a ship.

Fig. 2 presents a container 1, into the holes of the bottom corner castings support elements 5 according to an embodiment of the invention are installed. The purpose of a support element is to give more length to the container 1, so that it can be supported on the lashing bridge during transportation, as described below. The support elements 5 can be installed in the containers already in the harbor prior or during the lifting of the containers, in which case stevedores no longer need to do manual work on the ship for sup- porting the containers. Alternatively, it is possible to install the support elements 5 only after the containers are on the ship. The support element 5 is in this case an elongated metallic support bar, which extends away from the end of the container. It is further possible that support elements are installed on only one end of a container. It is also possible that support elements are installed on only the top corners, or on both the top corners and bottom cor- ners, of the ends of a container. The support elements can also function such that they lock the upper and lower container to each other in the manner of typical twistlocks. The locking between containers can in this case be manual, semi-automatic or automatic. Fig. 3 presents a stack formed by containers 1, which is stacked on top of a hatch cover 6 on the deck of a ship. On both ends of the containers are seen lashing bridges 4 transverse to the ship, in which lashing bridges the container stacks are supported, more particularly against movement in the lateral direction. In the em- bodiment presented by Fig. 4, the containers 1 are supported with support elements 5, which are installed in the manner presented by Fig. 2 in a container, which in Fig. 4 is the fourth from the bottom. Not all the containers therefore need to be provided with support elements, but instead according to the need at the time e.g. the third or fourth container from the bottom is supported. Since containers one on top of another lock to each other with twistlocks, the stack remains firm even if not all the containers were supported on the lashing bridge. Fig. 4 presents a top view of the arrangement of Fig. 3, which presents two stacks of containers side-by-side. In reality there are considerably more. The support elements 5 fixed to the ends of the containers 1 are supported when at sea in the lateral direction on the side surfaces of the vertical guide rails 7 of the lashing bridge. In a state of rest, there is generally a small clearance between them. Between the vertical guide rails 7 a recess of the lashing bridge forms, into which the support elements therefore extend. The lateral support given by the vertical guide rails prevents the containers from tilting or falling at sea when the ship heels. The vertical guide rails 7 extend to the full height of the lashing bridge or to only a part of it. In the longitudinal direction of the containers between the support element 5 and the lashing bridge 4 is a small clearance (or elasticity or corresponding arrangement), which facilitates the lifting and lowering of containers with a crane. In this case significant loads in the longitudinal direction of the containers do not form in the lashing bridge while at sea either. A support el- ement can thus move in relation to the lashing bridge in the longitudinal direction, and to some extent also in the lateral direction, of the container.

Instead of the arrangement of Fig.4 it is also possible to make the recess in the support element. In that case the guide rail would have to extend into the recess of the support element in order to achieve the support in lateral direction of the containers.

Fig. 5 presents another schematic drawing of the placement of con- tainers 1 in the cargo hold of the ship and on the deck (or on a hatch cover). Likewise, the placement of lashing bridges 4 in the transverse direction of the ship is seen in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 presents a support element 8 according to a second embod- iment of the invention, which support element is preferably a frame fixed into all four corner holes of the end of a container, which frame extends to a distance from the containers in the longitudinal direction of the containers thereby functioning as longitudinal extensions of the containers on containers to be stacked on top of a hatch cover (or on some of these containers). Also, a support element 8 is installed, if necessary, only on one end of a container.

The support element according to this embodiment is thus a frame, which is preferably formed from vertical and transverse bars and also from bars longitudinal to the container connecting these in the manner presented by Fig. 6. The support element 8 extends from the end of the container essentially the same distance as the support element 4 described earlier. Figs. 7-9 present the installation of a container provided with a frame-type support element 8 into a lashing bridge. Again only e.g. one container 1 in the container stack is provided with a support element 8 at both of its ends. The support member 8 is dimensioned such that it again extends between the vertical guide rails 7 of the lashing bridge 4 and is supported in the lateral direction on the side surfaces of the vertical guide rails. Between the end of the support element on the lashing bridge side and the lashing bridge is again a small clearance (or elasticity or corresponding arrangement), which enables the lifting and lowering of the container by the aid of a crane. If the fitting is too cramped, it is difficult to get the container to move into and out of its position.

The shape of the support element 5, 8 can, of course, also be other than what is described above. What is essential is that the part is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and also easy to install. In addition, a support element must extend to a sufficient distance from the end of a container so that it receives lateral support on the guide rails 7 of the lashing bridge 4. A support element can be fixed to one or more corners of a container, even to all the corners of a container, as is the support element 8 presented above. A support element 5, 8 is typically fully pre-installed in the containers 1 in the harbor before the containers are lifted onto the ship. As previously mentioned, support elements do not need to be installed in anywhere near all the containers, but only in a small proportion of the containers for achieving sufficient support of the container stacks. As described above, the containers of e.g. the fourth layer counting from the bottom are provided with support elements. This layer can be another one. In addition, it is possible that more layers are supported. Also, it is not necessary to support in all the stacks the containers of the same (e.g. the fourth) layer, but in- stead they can also be varied amongst the stacks.

One possibility is also that the support elements are rigidly fixed to the container. In this case no extra procedures for supporting the containers are needed, either in the harbor or on the ship. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but that it can be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. The characteristic features possibly presented in the description in conjunction with other characteristic features can if necessary be used separately to each other.

Claims

Support element (5, 8) for supporting containers (1) to a lashing bridge (4) or a corresponding structure of a cargo ship during sea transport, which support element (5, 8) is installed in at least one corner casting of the end of a container (1), characterized in that the support element (5, 8) extends in the longitudinal direction of the container (1) to a distance from the end of the container, forming a longitudinal extension of the container (1), and in that when the container (1) is in its position on the ship the support element (5, 8) extends to a support surface of the lashing bridge supporting the support element in a crosswise direction of the container.

Support element according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element (5, 8) extends into a recess in the lashing bridge, which recess forms in the lashing bridge between the vertical guide rails (7).

Support element according to claim 1, characterized in that a recess has been made in the end of the support element (5, 8), whereby a guide rail (7) extends into the recess of the support element in order to achieve the support in lateral direction of the containers.

Support element according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that support elements (5, 8) are installed in both ends of a container (1).

Support element according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the support element (5) is a piece that extends to a distance from the end of the container (1) and that is detachably fixed to one corner casting of the container (1). Support element according to claim 5, characterized in that there are two units of the support element (5) in both ends of the container (1), and in that they are installed in the bottom corner castings of the container (1).

Support element according to claim 6, characterized in that the support elements (5) installed in the bottom corner castings of a container (1) at the same time lock the container below it to the upper one in the manner of twistlocks.

Support element according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking is manual, semi-automatic or automatic.

Support element according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the support element (8) is a frame essentially the width of the container (1), which frame is fixed to one or more, preferably all four, corner castings of the end of a container (1).

Support element according to claim 9, characterized in that the support element (8) extends into the recess between the vertical guide rails (7) of the lashing bridge, in which case the vertical bars of the support element (8) are supported in the lateral direction on the vertical guide rails (7) of the lashing bridge (4) at least during sea transport.

Support element according to any of claims 1-10, characterized in that the support elements (5, 8) are installed in the container (1) before or during lifting the container onto the ship. Support element according to any of claims 1-10, characterized in that the support element (5, 8) is rigidly fixed to the container (1).

Container (1) for transporting freight on a cargo ship, characterized in that to one or both ends of the container (1) at least one support element (5, 8) according to any of claims 1-12 is rigidly or detachably fixed, which support element functions as a longitudinal extension of the container (1).

Method for supporting a container (1) during sea transport on a cargo ship, characterized in that in at least one end of the container (1) at least one support element (5, 8) according to any of claims 1-11 is installed, which support element is supported on the lashing bridge (4) at least in the lateral direction during sea transport.

Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the support element (5, 8) is installed in port before or during lifting the container onto the ship.

Lashing bridge (4) for supporting containers (1) during sea transport on a cargo ship, characterized in that support surfaces have been arranged in the lashing bridge (4) for supporting the containers (1) in their crosswise direction by preventing the sideways movement of a support element (5, 8) according to any of claims 1-11 fixed to the containers (1).

Lashing bridge according to claim 16, characterized in that a recess for the support elements (5, 8) has been formed in the lashing bridge (4) between vertical guide rails (7), the vertical guide rails forming the support surfaces for the support elements (5, 8).