ULSAN — A container ship that requires no manual lashing, the work of binding each container with steel rods and ropes, has entered service for the first time in the world.
HD Hyundai (267250.KS) said on the 6th that it had successfully built and delivered a 13,000-TEU container ship to a French shipping company, applying its proprietary "lashing-free" hybrid method. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (329180.KS) independently developed and verified the core technology, while HD Hyundai Samho handled detailed design and construction.
The lashing-free system completely eliminates the manual securing work that crews previously performed by hand with equipment on large container ships. It was developed to prevent cargo loss and to maximize efficiency in vessel operations and port logistics.
The key principle is extending the cell guide, the support structure that vertically aligns containers, above the deck. Previously, large hatch covers had to be placed over the cargo holds, making it impossible to raise cell guides above the deck. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries overcame this structural limitation by developing the portable bench, a standardized device that can be fitted between cell guides.
The portable bench shares the same dimensions as a 40-foot container, allowing port cranes to load and unload it directly. It is seen as a technology that will accelerate automation and unmanned operation across terminal handling and logistics on both land and sea. Containers stacked outside the cell guides are secured directly to the hull structure through a newly developed twist-lock routing system.
The vessel's loading performance and operational stability have also improved. The new ship carries more than 10% more cargo weight on deck than comparable existing vessels. The hull holds cargo firmly even in heavy waves and winds, preventing container loss and marine pollution incidents. Sea trials conducted in September confirmed a significant reduction in operational vibration compared with ships using conventional hatch covers and lashing bridges.
The technology was presented as Korea's representative technology at the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2024. HD Hyundai has registered multiple patents at home and abroad and received the Jang Young-shil Award this year. The company is also developing a next-generation version with added waterproofing.
"We plan to expand the lashing-free technology to small and mid-sized vessels," said Ryu Hong-ryul, executive vice president and head of the technology division at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. "We will strengthen our competitiveness in winning orders through customer-tailored technologies covering safety, loading efficiency and automation."
