container ships, maybe a stupid question.

[Tony Wilding]

I have never been aboard a Container Ship, not really been close to one, my stupid Question is this, the decks seem covered with metal frameworks, i assume thats where Containers slot in below deck level, but i cannot see how a hatch cover would be fitted, do they have Hatch Covers, if not how is water kept from going below, ?

[robpage]

Because I did not know the answer and was interested , I found this which must be almost a definitive guide

http://www.lr.org/Images/AMastersGui...155-175167.pdf

[alf corbyn]

a very good question tony and a good reply rob but too many words and too small print. are there still holds or is below decks now just ballast? do they still use holds for normal cargo? ie. grain, iron ore etc. or do they fill the holds with containers.bearing in mind that i never saw or knew of container boats.
when i left in fifty seven, dockers were still killing the merchant navy by refusing to use forklift trucks and still working the gang system..

[Tony Wilding]

thanks for that, it says some have hatch covers, but it seems the huge ones do not, would still like to know how water ingress is controlled, maybe a bilge level high alarm is fitted, then its pumped out,if that is correct, would it be an automatic or manual system, ? an open hatch seems a recipe for disaster,

[robpage]

it seems that each container is a watertight module too , I don't overly trust that one

[Captain Kong]

I have never set foot on a container ship. Never liked the look of them, There appears to be no decks for recreation. At least on a tanker with a 1,000 foot long fore deck with a non slip walk way all around, up one side and across the focsle and down the other , half a mile around the rails, there was plenty of exercise galloping around jogging etc , and on a Sunday we had welly throwing from one side over the flying bridge to the other side. Winner got a case of ale.
Cant do all that on a box boat.
Cheers
Brian.

[Red Lead Ted]

I have never set foot on a container ship. Never liked the look of them, There appears to be no decks for recreation. At least on a tanker with a 1,000 foot long fore deck with a non slip walk way all around, up one side and across the focsle and down the other , half a mile around the rails, there was plenty of exercise galloping around jogging etc , and on a Sunday we had welly throwing from one side over the flying bridge to the other side. Winner got a case of ale.
Cant do all that on a box boat.
Cheers
Brian.

You are as close as one can be in describing the hull of a container ship the first container ships were in fact converted Tankers built up from surplus T2 Tankers after the war in 1951. This pic shows the vertical cell guides that organize lower hold containers athwartships Regards Lads Terry.

[Kevin Mercer]

I was in Manchester Liners when they started the change to container ships. At first they converted general cargo ships and just before they made me redundant I sailed on the Manchester Quest ( formerly Miller ). As far as I can remember the holds were adapted to take the boxes and then closed with McGregor style hatch covers which carried the twist-locks for extra above the deck.
I never got chance to go aboard the designed container jobs , known as the "magic ships" because of their complex "unmanned" engine rooms and bridge control.
My cabin was in a great position, midships looking forward onto the main deck........till they loaded her up, then all I could see through the two ports was a dark red steel bulkhead. No day light, lights on all the time. Oh! and the cabin was haunted, but that's another story !
Cheers
Kevin

[John Pruden]

maersk have there own web site on you tube?jp

[Red Lead Ted]

I done a trip in the Manchester Zeal, Not just twist locks on her we had to lock her containers down with bottle screws and chains both below decks and above. The Manchester Zeal was also haunted But as you say that,s another story Regards m8 Terry.