9. CONTAINERS

Cargo that has been containerized is carried by container ships. Containers are most often measured in Twenty Feet Equivalent Units (TEU's) and are stowed in a cellular arrangement in Rows, Bays and Tiers. The rows run abeam, or athwart ship; the bays run fore to aft and the tiers are horizontal layers. The three-figure code on each container refers to this stowage system. Thus, each container can easily be found.

Container ships are sometimes equipped with their own gantry cranes that load and discharge the containers. Container ships may carry general cargoes, liquid cargoes or refrigerated cargoes. The advantages of carrying cargo in containers are: short lay time because of efficient and rapid cargo handling; few stevedores are required; less pilferage because the cargo has been stored in locked containers.

On a Ro / Ro ship cargo is rolled on and rolled off by lorries or trailers. The great advantage of this system is that no cargo handling equipment is required. The loaded vehicles are driven aboard via ramps through special stern and bow doors and are properly secured for the passage. Upon arrival in the port of discharge, the vehicles are released and driven ashore to their destinations.

Refrigerated-cargo vessels are ships that carry perishable cargoes, such as meat or fruit. These cargoes require cooling and must be stored in spaces that have precise temperature- and humidity controls during the voyage. Reefers, as these ships are also called, are equipped with refrigerating plants.

A. Match the words in Column A with Column B.