In an era when digital technology and data-driven processes dominate discussions on improving container transport efficiency, it is sometimes easy to overlook the impact of something as simple as the humble mechanical twistlock.
Initially secured by hand, the twistlock has nonetheless developed alongside the evolving demands for greater efficiency in the global container industry, with innovation taking it from purely manual to semi-automatic and, more recently, fully automatic operation.
While semi-automatic twistlocks are popular for their proven safety and relative simplicity, fully automatic solutions represent an increasingly attractive alternative thanks to the convenience and superior efficiency they provide. According to the world’s leading classification society, DNV, fully automatic twistlocks can also play an important role in facilitating automated terminal operations and could help to improve safety in cargo loading and discharge.
One such solution is MacGregor’s ACV-1 ‘Hippo’, a DNV-approved fully automatic twistlock that exceeds classification standards while helping customers maximise their stowage efficiency.
Most fully automatic twistlocks on the market deploy a locking mechanism to secure the twistlock in the container corner casting during loading and discharge. While several variations of locking mechanism are available, “Hippo uses a wire-operated mechanism that is proven to keep crucial pressure surfaces intact and thereby minimise the risk of slip-out. This makes MacGregor’s solution the safest fully automatic twistlock in the industry,” explains Arto Toivonen, Sales Manager, MacGregor.
“At DNV we have seen the evolution of the twistlock mechanism as designers have worked to find a fully automatic system that both safely secures containers and enhances loading and unloading efficiency,” says Daniel Abt, Approval Engineer, DNV. “During our testing we found that MacGregor’s ACV-1 fully automatic twistlocks have a load-bearing capacity that almost doubles the requirements in our rules for automatic twistlocks and perform equivalently to semi-automatic systems in terms of their ability to limit the movement of container stacks during voyages.”
