Container ship safety questioned

To minimise the gross tonnage, the enclosed area of the hull is being reduced (and with it the freeboard) while up to 73 per cent of containers are stacked on the deck. With high stacks of containers on the deck it may be not be possible to lash them securely against heavy seas and the ship `s motion, argues Mr Vossnack.

Coupled with a low freeboard, deck edge immersion and capsize as a result of heavy rolling is possible, he concludes. The Institute is asking members and others who have experience of this problem to provide details so the issue can be raised before the consequences become too significant.