HD Hyundai has delivered a 13,000-TEU container ship incorporating its Lashing-Free container securing technology, which removes the need for manual lashing of containers on deck.
The vessel, built for a French shipping company, is the first container ship to use the technology. A hybrid version of the system has been applied to the vessel.
The Lashing-Free system was developed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which developed and validated its key components. HD Hyundai Samho was responsible for the vessel’s detailed design and construction.
Conventional container ships use lashing equipment to secure containers stacked on deck. HD Hyundai’s system instead extends the cell guides used to align containers in the cargo hold above the deck.
The design required a solution for the hatch covers, which would otherwise prevent the cell guides from extending above deck. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries developed a portable bench that fits between the cell guides. The bench has the same dimensions as a 40-foot container and can therefore be moved using standard container-handling cranes.
HD Hyundai says the arrangement increases the vessel’s on-deck cargo capacity by more than 10% compared with conventional vessels of the same type. The system also includes a Twistlock Rooting System, which secures containers positioned outside the cell guide area directly to the vessel’s structure.
The system provides support for containers during rough seas and strong winds, reducing the risk of containers being lost overboard. The design can also reduce vibration compared with conventional arrangements using hatch covers and lashing bridges.
The company links the technology to the wider automation of cargo handling, as removing manual lashing could reduce the amount of work required between loading and unloading operations.
HD Hyundai is also developing a next-generation version of the technology with weathertight features.
Hongryeul Ryu, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, said:We plan to expand the application of this new container transportation technology to small- and medium-sized vessels. By continuing to develop differentiated technologies that deliver tangible value to customers in areas such as safety, loading efficiency and automation, we aim to further strengthen our ability to secure new orders.
The technology was presented by South Korea at the International Maritime Organization’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers in 2024 as a technology addressing container losses at sea.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has secured intellectual property registrations for the technology in South Korea and overseas. The Lashing-Free system was also selected for this year’s IR52 Jang Young-shil Award.
