A question on scale comparison - Page 2

**Bunkerbarge** · 02-08-2006

Scottie, attached are a couple of pictures off the web which show some quite irregular stowage of containers on a ship. They may not always be quite as irregular as these but remember any cargo could consist of differrent sizes and types of containers. The loading plan is always dictated by the order in which the containers are to be loaded and discharged and in any one port there will always be a percentage of each. Consequently it is important that the containers for the next port are not at the bottom of a hold!

The weight of the containers also plays a significant part in the arrangement and these are continuously fed into the loading computer to determine the condition of the vessel's stability at any time during the loading and discharging. Some of the more sophisticated ones are linked into the ballast system and can control the pumping of ballast to compensate for the movement of the containers during this time.

The site Jankers provided a link for gives a superb description of the lashing system used on containers and is worth a read. It is also worth remembering that all lashing equipment is stowed on deck in 'bins' around the hatches. This consists of the bottlescrews, tie bars and the 'twist-locks', all explained on the site.

The tie bars are attached in the middle to the bottle screws which have a right hand and a left hand thread and when the bottle is rotated the bars are extended or contracted. The tie bars are always arranged diagonally and will always be tied from the deck to the feet of the tier above the first tier. This ensures that the second is held and secured to the deck.

Lots of things to bear in mind when constructing a cargo of containers.

Also it is very rare that a cargo is all of the same company's containers as all container ship companies have agreements with other companies to carry thier own containers. Consequently although a Maersk ship may have predominately Maersk containers she may well also have some other containers from companies in the same consortium.

scottie2212 · 02-08-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by jankers

see http://www.solentwaters.co.uk/Genera...201/page2.html

for container detail, some good pics, a very useful site.

J.

Very useful site, thanks John, this one's been bookmarked.
I am pleased to see that the lashing detail on my plan is very accurate.

Scottie

scottie2212 · 02-08-2006

Big thank you to everyone who has helped me with this.

Richard, re loading etc, that has helped me make sense of many things on the plans.
Greg, I still prefer to have 'textured' containers but if I can't find a suitable mould the card models will be an acceptable alternative.

I'm a long way from making containers as I've only just started the hull but I do like to plan ahead so all of this information has been stored.

Once again, thanks to everyone who has contributed.

Scottie

**Bunkerbarge** · 06-08-2006

By the way Scottie, you don't have to be quite as random as this!!!

new to trains · 24-08-2006

hey scottie 2212
i have just placed the masters for 2 containers into silicon, as part of my expanding model railway scenics sideline - i have fabricated 2 containers by kitbashing some plastic kit containers for sides and fabricating tops and bottoms and then added some finer details, plastic stip for the hinges and door detailing and similar.... the 2 containers are 20 foot versions ( so only little ones ) for use on a HO/ OO scale, but once the silicon sets, then i cn start casting in resin !
i plan to make the containers whole in resin with a hollow section in the centre to reduce weight....
if you want i can send one up just for you to take a look at, maybe help you out planning your next vessel......

PM if you need to know more....