Court rules Langh Ship’s Cradle Tween Deck patent is valid

The invention of Hans Langh offers a solution to the problems of transporting heavy coils on a vessel. With heavy cargo on the bottom of the vessel, violent acceleration forces arise in rough seas causing stress for both the cargo and the crew.

Because of safety reasons, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) prohibited placing heavy coils on tween decks and the only subsequent solution has been to transport coils on the bottom of the cargo hold.

Heeling caused by rough seas is normally very strong on vessels carrying steel cargoes and when part of the cargo is transported higher than the hold, heeling movements diminish, reducing cargo damage and improving the working conditions of the ship’s crew. At the same time, more empty space is created for other cargo on the bottom of the cargo hold such as light, large pipes.