The Liberian Registry, the world’s second largest ship registry is very pleased to collaborate closely with HHI and ABS from the regulatory compliance perspective for HHI’s innovative container ship design.
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) recently announced that it has obtained Design Approval for the ‘Lashing Free Container Ship’ from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR).
This 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 has the advantage of eliminating the fastening work, which is the main concern of shipping industries, and blocking the risk of cargo loss at the source.
Mr. Darren Leskoski, Regional Vice President, North Pacific Business Development, ABS commented “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. ABS is pleased to be able to take one more step towards the advancement of container shipping technology through cooperation with HHI and Liberian Registry.”
Breaking the stereotype that hatch covers and lashing bridges are essential for large container ships, HHI developed the world’s first portable bench that replacing existing functions and eliminates fastening works and currently it 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, is designed to replace the hatch cover function and maximize its utility for land and sea transportation and warehousing. It can be standardized to be applicable regardless of the size of the vessel and the location of the cargo hold, thereby reducing production and transportation costs.
Mr. Thomas Klenum, Executive Vice President, Innovation & Regulatory Affairs, Liberian Registry commented “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 /unloading operations. With this successful project, HHI demonstrates that new technologies and innovative design solutions provides enhanced safety and competitive advantages.”
Securing equipment (turnbuckle and lashing rod), which has been in charge of 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 15,000TEU 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. Until recently, incomplete lashing systems had been cited as the main cause of container collapse and loss accidents that caused huge economic losses to shipping companies during container ship operations.
Mr. Won Ho Joo, who is Senior Executive Vice President and CTO in Shipbuilding & Offshore Business Unit of HHI commented, “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. We will make our best efforts to develop market-leading technologies that can be differentiated from competitors so that we can continue to lead the newbuilding market.”
This design maximizes the convenience of unloading and logistics operations by eliminating lashing operations that fasten containers loaded on the top of the deck. By preventing accidents in rough seas at the source, it is possible to prevent the loss of the upper deck container, and it is expected to contribute to the safety of sailors by eliminating dangerous fastening work. At the same time, it reduces maintenance costs for fastening devices, which are consumables.
The Liberian Registry has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive and innovative service to owners. Comprised of 5,400+ vessels aggregating over 235 million gross tons, representing 15 percent of the world’s ocean-going fleet. Liberia has earned international respect for its dedication to flagging the world’s safest and most secure vessels. The Liberian Registry is recognized at the top of every industry “white-list” including the International Maritime Organization and the major Port State Control authorities. Having a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment.
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