System for handling container cargo and a novel ship and lifting device

Claim 1

Apparatus for handling container cargo for marine transportation comprising: a cargo vessel having an uppermost deck over a cargo hold area, a plurality of vertical storage compartments extending from the uppermost deck into the hold and a bow entrance way situated in the forecastle structure above the minimum bow freeboard, said storage compartments having hatchways on the uppermost deck provided with removable covers that form a suitable operating surface, and a ramp being provided for connecting the entrance way to a dock, and a transport vehicle capable of unrestricted movement in all directions both on the dock and on the operating surface provided by the uppermost deck and the removable hatchway covers, said transport vehicle having a collecting means for collecting container cargo, stacking container cargo on top of each other on the support surface on which it travels, and raising and lowering container cargo below the support surface on which it travels, said transport vehicle being adapted to travel from the dock onto the uppermost deck of the vessel by means of the ramp and entrance way so as to allow for direct cargo handling, including lowering and raising container cargo vertically into and out of said vertical storage compartments from the uppermost deck and stacking container cargo on top of each other on the hatchway covers.