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> Most container ships are only in port for a few hours That's not true at all. The container ships are getting bigger, but port productivity hasn't kept up at

by bkor 9y ago

> Most container ships are only in port for a few hours That's not true at all. The container ships are getting bigger, but port productivity hasn't kept up at all. You can put more cranes on the vessel if it's longer, but lately it's often getting wider, not longer (=which would allow additional cranes to be used). Containers ships are often in a port for a really long time, can be days. That said, containers toppling over has happened in the past, including capsized feeders (small container vessels). Example 1: http://maritimeaccident.org/2010/01/husky-racer-toppled-boxes-top-heavy-due-to-software-glitch/ http://maritimeaccident.org/2010/01/husky-racer-toppled-boxe... Example 2: http://shipsmonthly.com/news/ship-accident-container-ship-capsizes/ http://shipsmonthly.com/news/ship-accident-container-ship-ca... (they noticed a problem, tried to prevent it from capsizing, it took 2 days and still capsized!) Often the cause is not hackers, just wrong data given by shippers. Basically saying that a container is heavy while it is light weight and vice versa. That's why every container loaded now needs their weight to be certified. http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/container/Pages/default.aspx http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/container/Pages/... Interestingly enough, up to that new requirement loads of containers could get on a container vessel without ever really knowing what their real weight was.

oasisbob 9y ago
That Husky Racer incident is interesting - particularly because correct weight data was eventually given by the shippers, but that data didn't propagate through Maersk's systems. Wonder if a dependence on removable media had anything to do with it. > The MAIB preliminary examination of the accident found that the inaccurate container weights were on the loading plan because of a system shortcoming which did not update the operations department when the shipper provided more accurate contents details to the carrier. > The Deputy Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to Maersk Line advising that its operations department should use the most accurate container weights and ship stability data available. [1] [1] https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/collapse-of-containers-on-container-feeder-vessel-husky-racer-in-bremerhaven-germany-resulting-in-the-loss-of-18-containers-overboard https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/collapse-of-containers-on-co...
- bkor 9y ago
  > Wonder if a dependence on removable media had anything to do with it. Not at all. It's better to ignore that bit out of the article. You actually have loads of parties giving a weight of a container. E.g. when the booking is made, then when they give the shipping instructions, then later maybe from a trucker when it's delivered to the terminal, lastly possibly given by the terminal itself (though most don't have it). What might have occurred that instead of having a sane design whereby you just update a weight of a container it works by having multiple different fields for these things. This as not always you can trust some input. E.g. weight given by a trucker in Germany might be ok, but it might be utter xxx in another country. I find it interesting that it was just an advice though. I'd prefer if they would have more ability to force changes and also across companies.
yardie 9y ago
I live by the Port of Miami and that's not what I'm observing. It's a different ship I see on my daily commute. The ship I see at 9AM isn't the same at 6PM. So I stand by my statement that they move them fast. It might not be the case everywhere, at the busiest ports (in my experience Miami and Savannah) they want you done and out.
- bkor 9y ago
  I work at a big container shipping company and I'm highly certain that you're mistaken. This based on thousands of calls as well as insight into terminal productivity data.
  - toast0 9y ago
    The port probably makes a difference. Ships stopping in Miami may be on a mulitpojt route and not have as many containers to unload and load than in long beach where it's more likely to be a back and forth route between US and (pick an Asian country), in which case essentially all containers on board will be unloaded and others would be loaded.
    - yardie 9y ago
      This is probably the case. Port Miami is on an tiny island and space is a premium. Ships also bunker. They might be "in port" for many days but they'll be anchored in designated areas. Port charges add up quickly.

by bkor 9y ago

oasisbob 9y ago

That Husky Racer incident is interesting - particularly because correct weight data was eventually given by the shippers, but that data didn't propagate through Maersk's systems. Wonder if a dependence on removable media had anything to do with it. > The MAIB preliminary examination of the accident found that the inaccurate container weights were on the loading plan because of a system shortcoming which did not update the operations department when the shipper provided more accurate contents details to the carrier. > The Deputy Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to Maersk Line advising that its operations department should use the most accurate container weights and ship stability data available. [1] [1] https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/collapse-of-containers-on-container-feeder-vessel-husky-racer-in-bremerhaven-germany-resulting-in-the-loss-of-18-containers-overboard https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/collapse-of-containers-on-co...

bkor 9y ago
> Wonder if a dependence on removable media had anything to do with it. Not at all. It's better to ignore that bit out of the article. You actually have loads of parties giving a weight of a container. E.g. when the booking is made, then when they give the shipping instructions, then later maybe from a trucker when it's delivered to the terminal, lastly possibly given by the terminal itself (though most don't have it). What might have occurred that instead of having a sane design whereby you just update a weight of a container it works by having multiple different fields for these things. This as not always you can trust some input. E.g. weight given by a trucker in Germany might be ok, but it might be utter xxx in another country. I find it interesting that it was just an advice though. I'd prefer if they would have more ability to force changes and also across companies.

yardie 9y ago

I live by the Port of Miami and that's not what I'm observing. It's a different ship I see on my daily commute. The ship I see at 9AM isn't the same at 6PM. So I stand by my statement that they move them fast. It might not be the case everywhere, at the busiest ports (in my experience Miami and Savannah) they want you done and out.

bkor 9y ago
I work at a big container shipping company and I'm highly certain that you're mistaken. This based on thousands of calls as well as insight into terminal productivity data.
- toast0 9y ago
  The port probably makes a difference. Ships stopping in Miami may be on a mulitpojt route and not have as many containers to unload and load than in long beach where it's more likely to be a back and forth route between US and (pick an Asian country), in which case essentially all containers on board will be unloaded and others would be loaded.
  - yardie 9y ago
    This is probably the case. Port Miami is on an tiny island and space is a premium. Ships also bunker. They might be "in port" for many days but they'll be anchored in designated areas. Port charges add up quickly.