Cargotec's new fully-automatic MacGregor C8A twistlock has gained approval from Germanischer Lloyd, passing strict testing and performance criteria. Cargotec says the new twistlock offers significant safety advantages and time-savings in port.

Erik Stenvik, Director, Lashings says: "Maintaining our market-leading position as a container securing specialist requires continuous research and development. We wanted to develop a design that successfully met or exceeded industry's changing operating requirements and all relevant ISO standards, without any compromise to safety."

The supplier also points to safety advantages for personnel involved with cargo handling operations, because they are unlocked by the vertical lift of the discharging crane, rather than manually by stevedores. The C8A units also have a 'positive locking' mechanism that can manually lock the twistlock. This feature is used below lashing bar level to limit the peak forces acting on lashing bars and turnbuckles, and therefore increases cargo safety.

"By the very nature of their design, automatic twistlocks, lashing rods and turnbuckles are exposed to significant overload when corner castings do not comply with ISO standards, this can result in plastic deformations to lashing equipment. Our unique invention 'positive locking' safeguards the long-term performance of the ship's inventory of container lashing equipment," says Mr Stenvik.
Cargotec has secured a contract to supply 175,000 of the new C8A twistlocks to Hapag-Lloyd for its new series of 10, 13,200teu container ships.