TECHNICAL INFORMATION

RoRo

Hoistable decks
Planning the MacGregor
hoistable deck
Our aim is to design hoistable decks
which are efficient, economic and safe,
while fully meeting the specific operating
requirements.
The more information that can be
given on these prerequisites, the greater
the chance to find the optimum solution.
Under the following headings informa-
tion requirements can found before
commencing the project. If these
answers are available at the earliest
stage possible, work will be saved during
the later stages, gaining valuable time by
shortening the lead time between initial
contact and delivery.
We define hoistable decks as any
type of non-integrated decks that can such as personnel access doors, sloping Clear height
be quickly moved to alternative working decks etc. In those areas panels may be What is the required clear headroom on
levels and stowed beneath the deckhead supported or divided. each working level? Furthermore, what
when not in use. Decks that are height- For decks partly covering the width is the clear height below the hoistable
adjusted by a mobile deck lifter, are also we require the minimum clear width. decks in stowed position?
called liftable decks. A normal value is 2,2 m for each car
Hoistable decks consists of a number of lane plus 0,6 m. With mobile deck lifter Loadings
panels that can be separately operated. operation the size of the panels will be In order to dimension the steel structure
This system makes it possible to efficiently restricted to maximum around 14x14 m with the required strength and minimum
stow vehicles with different headroom to avoid excessive deflection. weight we need to know the following:
requirements. In order to establish the If you require two levels of hoistable What kind of vehicles will be loaded?
configuration of the hoistable deck we decks the size of the panels may be What are the axle loading and wheel
need to know the following data. further restricted, because the total print area? How many axles are there
lifting capacity of the scissors lift is about and what is the distance between
Size of the hoistable deck 40 tonnes. them? What is the maximum uniformly
What is the total required useful area for distributed loading on the panels?
vehicle loading? How many deck levels Access ramp We will also include the ship’s accel­er­
are needed between the integrated How many access ramps are needed ation factors at sea in our calculations, if
decks? Shall the deck cover the full width for each level of hoistable car decks? these are known.
between bulkheads or steel structure Indicate where they should be placed to
boundaries, or just a part of it? This is optimise the cargo flow.
common on ferries where one lane is Should the access be from the integral
reserved for higher vehicles, such as deck below or from a fixed ramp?
lorries and coaches. To establish the length, width and
other data of the ramp please study our
Panel arrangement and size datasheet Hoistable ramps.
We need drawings of the ship to inves- In RoRo passenger ships the width
tigate the hull restrictions. It could be of the ramp is equal to the width of the
the location of support pillars, girders panels, so the cars can be driven straight
and bulkheads or any other item that on and off the panels to meet the
may influence the function of the deck, demands for swift loading and unloading.
Interface between hoistable deck which classification societies, national Operating options
and ship authorities and other regulations (e.g. There are three ways of operating the
The operating and securing equipment is IMO) are to be satisfied. Normally the panels: by hydraulic jigger-winch with
never allowed to intrude into the cargo hoistable deck is classi­fied as a part of wire ropes, electric jigger-winch with wire
space. The operating equipment is either the ship’s deck. Let us know if you also ropes or by moveable deck lifter.
located in the deck panel or in the hull require a lifting gear certificate. • Wires by hydraulic jigger winch
between girders or in the deck head. It is
important that you reserve space for the Options • Wires by electric jigger winch
decks in stowed position. A thickness of On the right we show the equipment or • Moveable deck lifter
approximately 300–450 mm for each level accessories which require your decision, When you require swift operation, as in
of decks is required, depending on the also optional equipment that may be passenger ships, the jigger-winch is the
size of and loading on the largest panel. added to the hoistable deck. obvious choice. If the decks are seldom
Also reserve space for the operating These should be studied point by point height adjusted, as in pure car carriers
equipment for the access ramp. when making an initial evaluation, based (PCC’s), the mobile deck lifter is the most
upon the particular operating conditions. effective solution. One mobile deck lifter
Operating system capacity
is needed on each deck and can serve up
The determinating factors in dimen­sion­ Control options to 45 panels.
ing the capacity of the operating system Two different systems are available: The lift is mounted on a chassis
are the size of the panel, total load when manual, where each step in the operation either self propelled or towable. The
raising the access ramp, and the required is controlled by hand levers; and auto- typical operating time for one panel is
speed. mated whereby pressing and holding a approximately 6–10 minutes.
A typical time for lifting one panel is single button will initiate and complete If there is a more frequent need for
about 1 minute, excluding operation the whole opening and closing sequence. adjustment, you should choose the
of the securing devices. The shorter
• Manual control system jigger-winch system when benefits of
the time, the more costly the required
• Automated control system the time savings justify the extra costs.
operating system. An indi­ca­tion should
Where there are car deck panels above
be given of the maximum and minimum The greater the degree of automation a fixed/moveable ramp, hydraulically-
ambient temperatures in which the of the system, the easier and faster the or electrically-operated panels are
hydraulic system is to operate. operation. recommended, as the mobile deck lifter
An automated system will be particu- can not operate on an inclined deck
Regulatory bodies larly cost effective on shorter runs where surface.
Please specify which demands are to be fast loading and unloading is needed.
met by the equipment. In other words,

15 m 15 m
20-25 m 18 m

3m

Centre casting Access ramp Panel Access ramp Panel

PASSENGER RORO CARGO VESSEL

Jigger-winch mounted in the side Pulling cylinder/electrical winch
shell structure in the panel

Working level options

You can choose between several config-
urations giving different working level
Option 1
combinations.
The first configuration with one deck
offers two alternative arrangements: two
working levels with equal height of the
Working position Stowed position headroom, or one working level with the
hoistable deck in stowed position.
The second configuration with one
deck offers three alternative arrange­
Option 2 ments: two working levels with equal
height of the headroom, or two working
levels with different height of headroom,
or one working level with the hoistable
Working position 1 Working position 2 Stowed position deck in stowed position.
The third configuration with two decks
offers three alternative arrangements:
three working levels with equal height
Option 3 of the headroom, or two working levels
with the lower deck stowed under the
upper deck, or one working level with
both decks in stoweed positon under the
deck head.

Car lashing options Handrails Structure options

The most cost-effective solution is Sockets for handrails are provided at The structure of the panels is available
45–60 mm holes in the top plate, but it each joint between the panels and a in mainly two different designs. The
can only be used on the open web steel number of stanchions and guard rope choice is mainly a compromise between
structure with steel top plate. Plywood are supplied for use on partly deployed low weight and low cost.
top solutions use stiffeners with holes in panels. On passenger ships folding Open web steel structure with steel
the top flange. The plywood is supported handrails are provided along the free top plate offers the largest free span
on the stiffeners, thereby avoiding lashing edges on both hoistable decks and with­out support links, giving free space
holes in the plywood top. access ramps. for loading and unloading. It is also the
heaviest alternative.
A lighter and less costly solution is the
open framework of rolled profiles, in steel
with plywood top plate.
Guiding and supporting options Options for securing in stowed
At least two corners of each deck position
panel must be connected to pillars or Two different methods are available –
bulkheads, where guides and support manual, hydraulic or electric operation.
pads can be fitted. The support pads The manual operation is carried out by
transmit the lateral forces when the deck a handle connected to the hooks or
is carrying cargo. The guides are guiding support latch by ropes.
the panels during lifting and lowering but The hydraulic or electric operation
they also transmit the horizontal forces is by means of a bolt pushed through
from the sea. The free corners of the the jigger winch head by a hydraulic or
panels are supported by foldable support electric cylinder; the panels are then
links. When there is only one working hanging in the hoisting wires in the
level all support pads are fixed and the stowed position. When the decks are
support links are not adjustable. operated by mobile deck lifter, manual
For configurations with alternative operation is the only choice. In all
working levels the support pads in the other cases the choice depends on the
lowermost position are fixed and all frequency of securing in stowed position
others adjustable: the support links are of and the demand for swift loading and
course adjustable in length. unloading.

Rope
Shellside

Manually operated securing hooks

Support link
adjustable
in length by
shifting pin
position Hydraulically
or electrically
operated bolt
through the
jigger winch
head per panel

Foldable support latch

stowed position

Alternative position
Foldable
support Lowermost position

latch
Fixed support pad
working
position
Handle for
support latch

Cargotec improves the efficiency of cargo flows on land and at sea – wherever
cargo is on the move. Cargotec’s daughter brands, Hiab, Kalmar and MacGregor
are recognised leaders in cargo and load ­handling solutions around the world.
Cargotec Sweden AB
Customer-driven MacGregor engineering and service solutions for the maritime Marine
transportation, offshore load-handling and naval logistics markets are used Fiskhamnsgatan 2, P.O. Box 4113,
onboard merchant and naval ships, on offshore support vessels, and in ports and
SE-400 40 Gothenburg, Sweden
terminals.
Tel. +46-31-85 07 00
Published by Cargotec Corporation. Copyright © Cargotec 1 September, 2010. Fax +46-31-42 88 25
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