American President Lines To Test Feasibility Of 45-Foot Cargo Containers

American President Lines (APL) has announced that it has contracted to build two prototype 45-foot containers in order to evaluate their feasibility for use in international trade. Twentyand 40-foot containers are the standard lengths in general use today by the maritime industry.

The prototypes, which are being built by Fruehauf Corporation, Detroit, will be tested for operational feasibility throughout APL's intermodal system, according to Richard L. Hill, APL vice president, land operations, and project manager.

Mr. Hill emphasized the importance importance of testing the new equipment as part of the industry's quest for greater operating efficiency.

The larger containers have the potential of speeding the loading and off-loading of vessels, and reducing drayage costs and the costs of inland transportation via the U.S. rail system, which the company uses extensively in its intermodal operations.

Eugene K. Pentimonti, vice president, engineering, said the company's three C-9 diesel containerships, which are scheduled for delivery in 1982, were designed with a structure that can be modified to accept 45-foot containers, as well as the standard 20- and 40-foot lengths. Those containerships will be the largest ever built in the U.S., with a capacity of 2,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). ' Evaluation of the 45-foot containers is under way both from the operations and the marketing perspectives. G.E. Bart, senior vice president, marketing, said APL, as one of the largest intermodal carriers in the industry, feels an obligation to move forward with testing new designs and concepts to provide better service to shippers and also to keep abreast of equipment technology already in use in the U.S.

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Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 19, Apr 15, 1981

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.