Containers are held in place with the aid of what are known as twistlocks.
These essential devices play a crucial role in securing shipping containers, whether stacked on a vessel, transported by rail, or stored in a yard. The mechanism described involves specific points of contact between the twistlocks and the containers themselves.
How Twistlocks Work:
- Insertion: Twistlocks are inserted into the corner castings of the containers. These corner castings are standardized structural elements found at each corner of a container.
- Engagement: The corner castings have special elongated holes.
- Locking: The rotating lug of the twistlock engages within these elongated holes. This engagement mechanism effectively locks the containers together, preventing them from shifting or separating during transport.
This simple yet effective system ensures the stability and safety of stacked containers, providing a secure connection between units.
