Boxing match for ro-ros
A versatile container system looks set to challenge the dominance of car carriers, writes Gavin van Marle.
The concept of carrying cars in containers has had stunted beginnings, but a new device developed by UK-based Trans-Rak International is starting to attract serious attention from shipping lines and intermodal operators.
“We brought out the first prototypes about three years ago and P&O Nedlloyd began using it. When the Maersk takeover occurred they just took over the system and continued to use it,” says Trans-Rak MD Paul Donaldson.
The impetus for a container carrier to attack the traditional preserve of ro-ro operators with their fleets of pure car and pure car and truck carriers (PCCs and PCTCs) came from British car manufacturer Lotus, which decided it had had enough of the damage inflicted upon its vehicles during transport to markets, and decided it wanted to containerise its shipments.
“Typically, a car will be handled 15-20 times between the factory and the dealership if its transported in PCCs. By the time it gets to the customer it’s almost secondhand. The alternative is two moves – one into the box and the other out of it,” he adds.
According to Donaldson, the key selling point for the line is the way in which the racking system can be wound up into the roof of the container.
“Whereas other systems to carry cars in containers are simply cassettes, our system allows cars to be taken one way, and then other types of cargo to be carried on the return leg. Of course, that also means that the box has to be tracked or run within a closed system,” he says.
The racks themselves weigh 360kg, and are attached – by wires that can be lengthened or shortened – to posts that are fitted within the corrugations of the container’s walls.
With two racks fitted in a 40ft container – and one in a 20ft box – four cars can be carried overall. With its smaller sports car, Lotus is able to carry five in one 40ft box, and loading is a relatively simple operation.
“Lotus are loading and lashing five cars in 35 minutes,” says Donaldson, “and unloading takes 20, so there’s no issue about increased handling time. Putting cars in containers is fine, but up until now the question has been whether you can put them in efficiently.”
With the current lack of capacity in the global PCC fleet, shippers have been looking at other modes of transport and Trans-Rak’s largest customer so far is Russian intermodal operator Eurosib, which has acquired 400 units.
It has a contract with Chinese automaker Chery, whereby it brings in complete-knockdown to Chery’s plant in Wuhu City, and exports finished vehicles back into Novosibirsk on the Trans-Siberian Railway using the same boxes.
Other shipping lines are expressing interest, including CMA CGM, and APL Logistics reports enquiries from North America. Additionally, container leasing firms Cronos and Capital number among Trans-Rak’s group of 10 existing customers.
“Every manufacturer says: ‘yes, we like it’, but it comes down to price,” says Donaldson.
That accounts for the continuing dominance of PCCs, but Maersk’s experience shows that if cargo for the backhaul leg can be secured, there is no reason why container lines cannot compete.
It is also attacking interest from the European shortsea sector and its growing love-affair with the 45ft box.
“This is a truly intermodal unit, and because of the extra length you can fit five smaller car into it. Five cars one way and 33 pallets the other, and you are really allowing operators to challenge the dominant 13.6 metre trailer.”
As if in response to this challenge, Unit 45, the Dutch lessor that specialises in 45ft boxes, is taking three units to show customers. And with interest growing, there is concern Trans-Rak’s production capacity may not keep up with future demand.
“We work very closely with [Chinese container manufacturer] CIMC, which is building the boxes for our customers. About 80% of our orders have been for newbuilds, which must make us one of the few companies in the world to be shipping manufacturer products into China, and the remaining 20% are retrofitted to boxes here in the UK.
“We can produce 1,500 – 2,000 units a year here, and if demand surpasses that we will have to think about setting up a plant abroad.”
