More containers in the sea...with some statistics at last...

[Mirelle]

Behind the urban myth...

... is an element of truth. Port dues are charged on Gross Tonnage, which (to simplfy grossly) is the volume in hundreds of cubic feet below the
weather deck. It therefore pays to build a container ship with a lower freeboard and rather more containers on deck, rather than vice versa. However, the ship must still meet the loadline and stability requirements.

There is nothing new in this; fifty years ago, long before containers, British ocean greyhounds were scouring the seas with "tonnage hatches" - a hatch about one metre square whicb magically converted the upper deck to a "shelter deck" on which port dues were not charged!

 

[mithril]

No wonder no one is bothered!

If its only 0.006% of containers lost then its effectively zero lost. In perspective, I give 0.1% of my salary to the RNLI if I gave them only 0.006% it would £3 perannum. i.e. nothing.

 

[Mirelle]

Nothing.

They cost between US$ 1,200 and US$ 2,400 new, depending on spec and on the steel price, and are depreciated over 8-12 years.

 

[muzzarak]

[ QUOTE ]
More that the design of these ships doesn't seem to be focussed on the security of the container

[/ QUOTE ]

I seem to remember when a certain Dutch company (implicated in recent container overboard incidents)introduced their hatchless vessels in the 1990s, they had cell guides which came right out above deck level, which in theory would have helped hold the containers securely in place. Only problem was they kept knocking them out of shape when they were getting the boxes on and off, which meant they then couldn't move boxes on and off (if you see what I mean).

 

[Mirelle]

True. Cost of PTI' ing a reefer that has been used for general cargo cancels out the revenue earned by the general cargo, more often than not.

Yes, it cancels out the bouyancy of the foam insulation.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Since my last post I have spoken to a friend of mine who recently retired from the industry. He was the technical director of a container leasing Co. Reefer units his speciality.

He has told me that a dry container has a vent, about 6ins from the top, hence they are reluctant to sink.

An empty reefer will float pretty well, dont forget it has a sealed door. Loaded it will still float to varying degrees but is likely to stay afloat longer than a dry unit.

 

[snooks]

Just below the surface?

Sorry, one phrase keeps popping up time and time again and it's starting to grate /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif....they float "Just below the surface"....no they don't

With the exception of Submarines, which have all sorts of gadetry to keep them neutral bouyant, things do not float "just below the surface". Containers don't have gadetry and to get something to be suspended just below the surface it has to be very small (silt for eg) or have to be aided is some way - Even fish have swim bladders and sharks have fins. Containers have none of these, therefore they float ON the surface...or sink...if they are just below the surface they are sinking and no longer floating /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

They may be floating ON the surface, and be awash, but this isn't the same thing as floating "just under the surface". Floating "just under the surface" implies that they are suspended in the water, underneath the surface which isn't the case

Rant over /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif...A few deep breaths and I'll be fine /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[terry108]

Re: Just below the surface?

It matters not wether the are floating or sinking. Hit one in either state and it will hurt more than likely your boat hence you may sink if you don,t sink it will hurt your wallet. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Kilter]

Good point...and in future all yacht tests should include being sailed smack in to a semi submerged container to see how well the yacht stands up to it. Claymore might like to be the tester for this one!

 

[Norman_E]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep money talks, and some less scrupulous Shipping lines might not care ...

[/ QUOTE ]
Like P & O perhaps? They don't even have to drop containers to sink yachts, just do 25 knots in fog down the channel.