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I think a lot depends on the compoany and where they are sailing. I have seen a number of what appear to be different types of container ships around the South Pacific region. The larger companies such as the China Shipping company look to use conventional types of storage. But there are a number fo smaller companies operating in and around the islands thta have a different style, some of them looking anything but secure.
Most container ships have slab Hatch covers lift on lift off and cleated down.the troulble is they take up space on the quay side (some where to put them).So they developed hatchless container ships for speed and space for condition of class they have to have a seperate automatic bilge system,but it is not widley used (the bigger the ship the more water ingress,) but it is only used on hatches aft of the bridge for better protection from big greeny's.They could make the slab hatches floatable and put them in the water?(its better than using a punt to paint the ships side.)
I sailed with Manchester Liners for seven years on the "magic" boats and their successors. The design principle of the hull is to allow the beam at deck level to be of equal width to the width at the bottom of the hold. A standard container is 8ft wide x 20 ft long x 8ft high. Taking a single stack of containers , each containers was lifted over the hold and lowered into a set of four guides, one per corner of the container. The guides cross section are "L" shape with each leg of the "L" being approx 4 " approx . The guides run from the deck level to the top of the double bottoms. The containers are lowered into the guides and the container is lowered to the bottom of the hold. A second container is lowered into the guides and this container is lowered until it sits on top of the first container. This procedure continues until the containers reach the deck level. Thiis stacking is repeated in other sets of guides until the hull box section is filled with containers. A single hatch totalling the area above the containers has a folding steel canopy ( a macgregor hatch) which is folded open to load the ship and when the hold is full the steel canopy is folded over the containers , the canopy settling on to the hatch comings which are fitted with a rubber seal. THe folding hatch is clamped down on the combing and a water tight seal is made between the canopy and the combing. Fiinally, other containers are placed over the canopy and supported by the canopy. These containers then have a second level and third level of containers placed on top of the first layer. The containers are locked to the canopy and each other. There is a longer than standard container of 40ft. The guides are suitable designed to be removalble to accommodate this size The Magic boats were big for the day but todays container ships dwarf them
I watch the TV, program Mighty Ships every week on channel (7 two) here in Os last night it was the biggest container ship in the world a really top show,takes you on a walk all over the ship following the crew,as they perform thier duties.Very interesting show.Dont know if you get it back home but if you do its worth the hour spent to watch!
Only ever sailed on one. DBS on the Act 1 in '74. Interesting replies above, it is something I had thought about as well but never really understood how they kept the water out the holds. Thanks for all the answers.
Hi Terry ( post #11)
Maybe we should start a new thread on ghost stories, there must be tons of 'em !!
Cheers
Kevin
Spent two happy years on the Dart Line container ships America and Atlantic and have to say enjoyed every voyage - Southampton /Halifax/New York/Antwerp/Southampton and then the same all over again before going on leave. Great ships and a good crowd of lads to sail with.
Regards
John
Hi Terry ( post #11)
Maybe we should start a new thread on ghost stories, there must be tons of 'em !!
Cheers
Kevin
.
./ Hi Kevin and Terry
I have sailed with a few Ghosts on ships good idea.
Cheers
Brian.
Spent many years working with container vessels - sailing on them , loading/discharging/,operating,managing and running them.
A couple of extra points to Neil Howards post. Standard height was changed many years ago to 8' 6". The most important
construction in a container is the corner castings and end pillars . That's how the load is transmitted through the stack.
John, then you sound like the perfect person to answer Tony's question in post #1, some answers have touched on it, but no definitive answers yet on hatch covers and watertightness of vessels without hatch covers, Did read the guide that Rob posted but it assumes the reader knows the basics, as do a lot of manuals, but alas they do not always assume correctly Rgds IvanQuote:
Originally Posted by John Cassels