OSHA-compliant below-deck solutions

MacGregor says its new TPS-1 terminal stacker, SDL-4 semi-automatic terminal stacker and forthcoming new-design anti-rack spacers comply with the US Government?s Occupational Safety and Health Administration?s requirements below deck. On typical multipurpose vessels, which do not utilise cellguides, the athwartship forces in the container stacks below deck can now be controlled with TPS-1 special terminal pressure stackers, instead of using conventional double stacking cones, says MacGregor. TPS-1 stackers are fitted and dismantled on the quayside before and after loading in the same way as semi-automatic twistlocks, says the company. The TPS-1 also allows independent and flexible loading and unloading of both 20ft and 40ft units on top of those containers without restriction and without the necessity to reduce weights in accordance with Germanischer Lloyd requirements, says MacGregor. The SDL-4 semi-automatic terminal stacker can be used with 40ft cellguides and mixed stows of 20ft containers topped with a 40ft container on the last tier. The first contract to use the system is for a pair of 12,500dwt multipurpose newbuildings at the Yangzijiang shipyard in China. Securing equipment packages supplied to these ships include TPS-1 terminal pressure stackers, SDL-4 semi-automatic terminal stackers, CV-20 semi-automatic twistlocks, AFC-1 automatic fixing cones and the Multilash (turnbuckle/rod) system. Each vessel will also be equipped with three MacGregor-Hägglunds LC4024-4/3224gr-4 deck cranes with grab equipment.