Fuelled by the now fully established OSHA regulations, sales of the latest designs of compliant MacGREGOR securing equipment are at record levels

In 1996 the US Government Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) first announced its plans to ban stevedores from climbing on top of containers to release securing devices. The rules subsequently entered into force on 26 July1999. Prior to this date MacGREGOR introduced a range of proven compliant products and as a result, its Securing division has taken a major share of the orders placed by owners complying with the new OSHA directive.

Sales of OSHA-compliant equipment for both newbuildings and after sales continue to be a major driving force behind securing equipment sales.

On deck

CV-20: Sales of the trendsetting CV-20 semi-automatic twistlocks have now topped 1.5 million with a record 1.64 million pieces sold to date. The CV-20 was launched at the end of 1996 following the initial OSHA announcement. It offers unique handling and safety advantages. In addition to OSHA compliance, this twistlock is also attracting customers because of its proven ability to increase container handling efficiency, thereby reducing turnround times. This is particularly the case when the CV-20 is used in combination with the AFC-1 midlock and the SDL-4 hanging/terminal stacker.

Historically, semi-automatic twistlocks were not reliable but the CV-20 two-wire system has proved to be very dependable in service and has thus become the trend-setter. It does not include any spring-loaded pressure mechanisms and requires minimal maintenance without the requirement for special tools. Furthermore, it is not uni-directional, can be corrected in position, and its two-wire operation facilitates either semi-automatic or manual operation, as well as providing a clear indication of the twistlock status. Additional benefits are its low weight of around 6.6kg, and an integrated securing system to prevent it accidentally falling out because of container movements or impacts.

Recently the housing has been slightly re-designed to comply with the latest requirements of international classification societies but otherwise the unit proven and successful features have been retained. For extreme loading cases with over-proportional high pressure forces, a model can be supplied with a larger seat, the CV-20G.

CV-15: Some 150,000 pieces have already been sold since the CV-15 one-wire semi-automatic twistlock was previewed in the MacGREGOR portfolio in 1998. It is available with either high tensile steel, forged steel or cast iron components depending on specific customer requirements, with either the classical spring or an alternative operating mechanism. The CV-15 was primarily developed for the after-sales market and features all the popular advantages of many similar fittings but has the particular benefit of being a simpler design. The CV-15 introduces a higher degree of reliability to the concept of a price-competitive one-wire twistlock.

AFC-1 family: Introduced in 1993, the AFC-1 pioneered the self-locking and fully automatic midlock concept. It has the special feature of being unmixable in forward-and-aft directions to eliminate mishandling. It is a pure ISO gap locker and does not allow the insertion of a lashing rod in the bottom or top corner castings. For use where a lashing rod is required MacGREGOR recently introduced the AFC-1L. It is a completely new midlock that allows a lashing rod to be connected to the bottom corner casting of adjacent containers.

AL-2: A new bottom midlock for use between bottom container layers and foundations. It features an invulnerable locking mechanism and complies with the highest strength and safety requirements of the classification societies.

Sales to date of all midlocks are in excess of 675,000 and it is proving to be the perfect partner for use in combination with the CV- 20

Unilock: The Unilock universal twistlock completes the new series of OSHA-compliant on-deck fittings. The Unilock was the subject of a four-year development programme and is the world first universal semi-automatic twistlock and midlock in a single unit.

The Unilock can be used at both the accessible end of the containers and for the 76mm ISO gap where standard twistlocks cannot be used. It looks like a one-wire unit but can be used in place of combinations of semi-automatic twistlocks and midlocks. Unlike one-wire semi-automatic twistlocks, the Unilock cannot unintentionaly fall out (neither can the CV-20). To date some 32,000 pieces have been sold.

Using the Unilock, stevedores do not have to ensure that the correct combination of semi-automatic twistlocks and midlocks are positioned at each end of the container during loading. The Unilock eliminates the decision process, thus avoiding confusion and potential errors. It also has the unique feature of even allowing the application of a Paralash systems.

Below deck

TPS-1: The new TPS-1 is an OSHA-compliant terminal pressure stacker that facilitates the independent and flexible loading and unloading of unrestricted 20ft and 40ft containers in compliance with Germanischer Lloyd requirements. With the TPS-1, container stacks below deck can now be controlled without having to use conventional double stacking cones. TPS-1 stackers are fitted and dismantled on the quayside before and after loading in the same way as semi-automatic twistlocks are utilised. The TPS-1 can be used to control athwartship forces in the container stacks below deck where cellguides are not utilised.

SDL-4: The SDL-4 is a market-leading, self-locking semi-automatic terminal stacker, of which some 900,000 pieces of which have been sold to date. It can be used with 40ft cellguides and mixed stows of 20ft containers topped with a 40ft container on the last tier. It therefore offers a valid solution to in-hold OSHA compliance. Units can be used for the mixed stowage of 20ft containers in 40ft cellguides.

SDL-1: In conjunction with MacGREGOR advanced Mixed Stowage System, the flange-less SDL-1 terminal stacker reduces the number of fittings needed by up to 50 per cent. The simple one stacker per container end rule guarantees a fool-proof system, invented by MacGREGOR.

Comparable systems are based on the strict need for the two stackers to be fitted at the ISO-gap end of each 20ft container. For the stevedores ashore it is difficult and in some cases impossible to determine the correct end of the container. If the stackers are inserted into the wrong end by mistake, the container is completely unsecured.