HD Hyundai Delivers the World's First Container Ship Free of Manual Lashing

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 6, HD Hyundai announced the delivery of the world's first container ship designed to be free of manual lashing. The vessel was built for France's CMA CGM Group, with a capacity of 13,000 TEU, powered by methanol dual-fuel propulsion, and partially equipped with the hybrid Lashing-Free system developed by HD Hyundai. The ship has been named "CMA CGM GOLD." Following its naming ceremony on October 2, it set sail on October 6 for its first port of call, Tianjin Port in China.

The core system was developed and verified by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, while HD Hyundai Samho was responsible for the detailed design and construction of the vessel. Traditionally, deck cargo on container ships must be manually secured using equipment such as lashing rods. The new system extends the cargo hold guide rails above the deck, allowing containers within the guide rail range to be secured directly by the structure. The delivered vessel adopts a hybrid approach, meaning not all deck container slots across the entire ship have had their securing devices removed.

The system also features a movable "Portable Bench" structure, which is installed between the guide rails. Its dimensions match those of a 40-foot container, allowing it to be lifted by terminal container cranes in the same manner as a standard container. Containers positioned outside the guide rail range are secured directly to the hull via a newly developed twist lock arrangement system.

According to design data published by HD Hyundai, the system increases the ship's deck container loading capacity by more than 10% compared with existing vessels of the same type. The ship completed sea trials in September, and test results showed that vibration levels were reduced compared with vessels using traditional hatch covers and lashing bridge structures. The relevant lashing-free technology was previously submitted to the International Maritime Organization's Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers in 2024 and has obtained multiple patents.

HD Hyundai plans to subsequently extend the technology to small and medium-sized container ships.