How to Load and Unload Container Houses

The loading and unloading of container houses are mainly achieved through lifting and roll-on/roll-off methods, and the specific operations should select appropriate methods based on site conditions and equipment types.

I. Lifting Method

The lifting method relies on lifting machinery to complete vertical loading and unloading, suitable for specialized container terminals or sites equipped with lifting equipment.

1. Terminal Operations: At the forefront of specialized container terminals, equipped with quayside container cranes (such as bridge cranes), direct loading and unloading of containers between ships and terminals can be carried out. Within the freight yard, based on the type of machinery, there are straddle carrier methods (flexible穿梭, here meaning moving flexibly through the yard), rubber-tired gantry crane methods (highly maneuverable), rail-mounted gantry crane methods (excellent stability, operating along tracks), and chassis truck methods (convenient for connecting with transportation links). For example, inland dry ports often use container gantry cranes for rapid loading and unloading, with controllable lifting and traveling actions that enable precise positioning and reduce container collisions.
2. Process Flow: The lifting process flow includes four typical models:
   • Ship - quayside crane - container truck - forklift (or front-end loader) - yard;
   • Ship - quayside crane - container truck - straddle carrier - yard;
   • Ship - quayside crane - container truck - gantry crane - yard;
   • Ship - quayside crane - container truck - chassis truck - yard. These processes achieve efficient transfer of containers from ships to yards through different combinations of machinery.

II. Roll-on/Roll-off Method

The roll-on/roll-off method achieves horizontal loading and unloading through equipment such as chassis trucks and tractor trucks, without the need for lifting, suitable for rapid connections between ports and transportation vehicles.

1. Loading Operations: Place the container on a chassis truck (trailer), and the tractor truck tows the trailer through a ramp into the ship's hold, completing loading after unhooking. Upon arrival at the port, a forklift lifts the container from the ship's hold onto the trailer, and the tractor train tows it to the terminal yard, or directly uses a forklift for loading and unloading through the ramp. For example, ports often use a combination of forklifts and tractor trains, while stations rely on forklifts or parallel loading and unloading machines to achieve smooth transfer of containers between different transportation vehicles.
2. Equipment Selection: The core equipment for the roll-on/roll-off method includes chassis trucks, tractor trucks, forklifts, etc. Forklifts should be selected with models capable of lifting at least 15,000 pounds and ensuring sufficient arm width and strength; the combination of tractor trucks and trailers should adapt to the ramp slope and ship's hold space.

III. Loading and Unloading Precautions

1. Equipment Matching: Select appropriate machinery based on the weight and size of the container to avoid overloading or equipment damage. For example, warehouse forklifts cannot handle containers and require specialized forklifts or cranes.
2. Site Conditions: Before loading and unloading, evaluate the destination space, height restrictions, and ground flatness to ensure safe access for trucks and placement of containers.
3. Operational Specifications: During lifting, maintain load balance to avoid concentrated loads; during roll-on/roll-off operations, ensure a secure connection between the tractor truck and the trailer to prevent slippage.