Method and arrangement for ocean freight transportation

{
  "publication_number": "US8747051B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Method and arrangement for ocean freight transportation",
  "abstract": "An ocean freight method and arrangement handles goods in a number of transport modes, such as containers, with the same transport in a cargo hold of an ocean vessel with cranes. The transport has a platform with a width corresponding to two regular containers to be loaded and unloaded by two parallel cranes enabling transportation of heavy and over wide units.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for handling freight for transportation in an ocean vessel comprising the steps of: loading first freight on first platforms having a standard first width; loading second freight on pairs of parallel second platforms of the standard first width, each of the pairs of second platforms being arranged and joined side-by-side to have a second width thereof and having substantially coplanar support surfaces, said second width being approximately twice said first width; loading and unloading each pair of the first platforms with the first freight thereon with a crane into and out of a cargo area of the ocean vessel; and loading and unloading the second platforms with the second freight thereon with two parallel cranes into and out of the cargo area of the ocean vessel.",
    "2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the two parallel cranes are attached to each pair of second platforms at lifting posts at corners of each second platform of each pair of the second platforms.",
    "3. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of the first and second platforms has a common standard length.",
    "4. A method according to claim 2 wherein each lifting post has a common standard height.",
    "5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the first standard width is about 16 feet; and the common standard length is about 40 feet.",
    "6. A method according to claim 2 wherein at least some of the lifting posts located between longitudinal sides of each pair of second platforms are moved to non-blocking positions to facilitate loading freight on the second platforms."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The subject of the invention is a method and arrangement for ocean freight transportation.\n\nU.S. Pat. No. 4,043,285, U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,185, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,305 describe cargo vessels suitable for sea transport functions, which vessels have upper level cargo handling equipment and support structures for the loading and unloading of cargo containers. Such vessels, known as “Twinstar”, maximize the load transport capacity, minimize idle time in ports and provide an extremely cost-effective system for the loading and unloading of cargo. The integrated container cranes on the vessels make it possible to achieve optimal efficiency in ports. By effecting saving manpower and time, they specifically decrease or even obviate the need for manual labor for loading and unloading vessels. In addition, a large amount of the transported cargo can be stored in a safe way with a minimum of time spent and with as little labor as possible. Also, loading and unloading operations can be safely carried out even in bad and windy weather conditions.\n\nFurthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,640 describes a refrigeration arrangement suitable for the purposes mentioned above, which, first of all, includes heat insulation in the surrounding structures of a cargo vessel's hold, and, second, refrigeration units placed in the refrigeration areas that connect to the cargo holds. Thus, it is possible to stack a large volume of containerized cargo in the holds, while keeping it apart from the refrigeration units.",
  "cpc": [
    "B66C 1/10",
    "B63B 25/00",
    "B63B 25/004",
    "B63B 27/12",
    "B65D 19/0002",
    "B65D 19/38",
    "B65D 88/129",
    "B66C 23/52"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65D 19/38"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Raimo Nordström",
    "Hannu Nurminen"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2012-01-20",
  "publication_date": "2014-06-10",
  "grant_date": "2014-06-10",
  "priority_date": "2011-01-24",
  "application_number": "US-201213354525-A",
  "family_id": "43528548",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
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    "JPH10250678A",
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    "WO2000064733A1",
    "US20050019127A1",
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    "US20090280000A1"
  ]
}