Cargo Access, Securing & Handling Equipment

Reefer sockets & container monitoring

The electrical outlets that power refrigerated containers on deck and in holds, plus the monitoring that reports each box's temperature — the socket count is large enough to size the ship's generators.

Lashing computer

Software that checks whether the planned stack heights, weights and lashings of containers will hold in the expected ship motions, warning planners before a bad stowage goes to sea.

Hatch covers

The large movable steel lids over cargo holds. They must open quickly for cargo work yet close weathertight, because water entering a hold is one of the classic ways dry cargo ships are lost.

Ro-ro ramps & shell doors

The hinged ramps and hull doors through which vehicles drive on and off a ro-ro ship. Because they are openings in the hull itself, their locking and sealing is safety-critical and their status is shown on the bridge.

Hoistable vehicle decks

Movable car decks that can be raised or lowered to change deck heights, letting the same ship carry cars on many low decks or high vehicles on fewer tall ones.

Cell guides & lashing bridges

The vertical steel rails that guide containers into position in the holds, and the raised walkway structures between deck stacks from which lashings are applied.

Container lashing gear

The twistlocks, rods and turnbuckles that tie deck containers to the ship and to each other, so stacks survive rolling in heavy weather.

Cargo hold ventilation (dry cargo)

Fans and ventilators that exchange the air in cargo holds, preventing moisture damage from condensation and removing gases some cargoes give off.

Vehicle deck ventilation

The high-capacity ventilation of ro-ro vehicle decks, sized to purge the exhaust of hundreds of running engines during loading and to manage flammable vapour at sea.

Livestock ventilation, watering and waste-handling system

The life-support outfit of a livestock carrier: high-capacity fans, drinking-water distribution and manure handling. If ventilation stops, animals on the enclosed decks can die within hours.

Heavy-transport submergence and ballast-control system

The precise ballast control of a semi-submersible heavy-lift ship, which deliberately sinks its deck below the waterline to float a cargo such as a rig on top, then rises again — an operation demanding exact control.

Cargo securing / heavy-project load monitoring system

Sensors and calculations that watch the forces in the seafastenings of very heavy project cargoes during the voyage, warning if motions load the securing points beyond design.

Bulk carriers and specialised dry-bulk carriers

General and specialised break-bulk cargo ships

Multipurpose, open-hatch, deck, heavy-lift and heavy-transport ships

Container ships

Ro-ro cargo and vehicle carriers

Refrigerated cargo ships

Fishing vessels, factory trawlers and live-fish carriers

Ro-ro passenger ferries

Cable, pipe, diving, subsea construction, WTIV and intervention vessels