Transferring esp. of loose material from container lorry to ship - involves use of jointed coupler on tugboat to secure train of containers floating from transportable flexible slipway

摘要

The cargo transfer method involves reversing a tipper lorry (1) to the water's edge (2) where pref. a flexible roller track (7) carried on the lorry is unrolled into the waterway (3) to serve as a slipway for the train of containers (4) released by the tilting of the tipper frame (5). The proximal end of the train is retained by a hook (6) on the frame while a tugboat (8) carrying an automatic coupler (9) grapples with the distal end. The train is then released (11) into a floating position. ADVANTAGE - Road congestion is reduced by flexible and rapid transfer to ship without special technical expedients or additional labour-intensive processes.