ABS, Liberia Registry approve HHI lashing-free containership design

The new containership concept, described as the world’s first, does not require fixing of containers. The design eliminates hatch covers and lashing bridges that are essential to very large container ships, and develops a new product called a portable bench to expand the cell guide, which could only be installed inside the cargo hold, to the outside. It eliminates the fastening work, which is the main concern of shipping industries in terms of cargo loss in severe weather conditions.

“Lashing-free container ship design has significant potential for improvement of safety and efficiency of containers loading work. ABS has continuously contributed to the innovation and development of container shipping technology around the world,” said Darren Leskoski, Regional Vice President, North Pacific Business Development, ABS

HHI has completed domestic and international patent applications for core technology, trademark, and design under the name of ‘SkyBenchV2’.

The portable bench, designed to be loaded and unloaded like a general container with a Shore to Ship Crane, will replace the hatch cover function and maximise its utility for land and sea transportation and warehousing. It can be standardised to be applicable regardless of the size of the vessel and the location of the cargo hold.

“Loss of containers overboard is one of the biggest design and operational challenges facing the container ship segment. The Lashing-free container ship design not only enhances the safety and environmental protection, but also offers improved operational efficiency for the container loading/unloading operations. With this successful project, HHI demonstrates that new technologies and innovative design solutions provides enhanced safety and competitive advantages,” commented Thomas Klenum, Liberian Registry Executive Vice President, Innovation & Regulatory Affairs.

Securing equipment (turnbuckle and lashing rod), which has overseen fastening containers loaded on the top of the upper deck from existing container ships at a certain height of the designed lashing bridge, is a consumable that needs to be replaced several times during the life of the ship. In container ships of 15,000 teu Class or higher, the fastening works using about more than 3,000 to 4,000 sets of lashing equipment (turnbuckles and lashing bars) is performed entirely by hand. In the heavy sea state, it can be additionally affected by the movement of the hatch cover and the deformation of the hull.

Incomplete lashing systems have been cited as the main cause of container collapse and loss accidents that caused huge economic losses to shipping companies during container ship operations.

“It is a creative technology that can fundamentally eliminate lashing-related work and resulting cargo loss, which is a major topic in the container shipping industry recently,” said Won Ho Joo, Senior Executive Vice President and CTO in Shipbuilding & Offshore Business Unit of HHI.

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ABS, Liberia Registry approve HHI ‘lashing-free’ containership design