WO2013110274A1

WO2013110274A1 - A ship

Info

Publication number: WO2013110274A1
Application number: PCT/DK2013/000011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans C. NIELSEN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-01-27
Filing date: 2013-01-25
Publication date: 2013-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-27

Description

A ship

The present invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a ship configured for carriage of containers as well as palletized cargo. According to an aspect of the invention, the palletized cargo may be carried outside containers, in a container hold under conditions wherein temperature and air composition may be controlled.

According to the first aspect, the present invention relates to a ship including a hull and a cargo hold section configured for accommodating intermodal shipping containers. The cargo hold section is arranged essentially within the hull, and the cargo hold section inter alia is defined by:

- an essentially upwards facing access hatch, or opening, providing access for cargo to the cargo hold section,

- a removable hatch cover configured for closure of the access hatch.

The cargo hold section includes:

- a plurality of cell guides extending essentially vertical within, or inside, the cargo hold section. The cell guides are arranged to define cargo spaces or vertical cargo cells,

- means for cooling the cargo hold section.

The cargo hold section may be disposed in a central, forward and/or after part of the hull.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a cargo hold or a cargo hold section. According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a platform deck configured for accommodation of palletized cargo. The platform deck according to the third aspect is configured to be conveyed vertically, by hoisting means, within cell guides arranged within a container hold compartment. Consequently, the footprint of the platform deck may equate to that of a standard or ISO forty or twenty foot container. The platform deck further may be configured for guiding air from means for cooling, or coolers, to a cargo holding space disposed on a top face of the platform deck or cargo stored below the platform desk. The platform deck further may, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, be configured for guiding return air to means for cooling, or coolers, from a cargo holding space below or above the platform deck when the platform deck is disposed in or in-between cell guides inside a container hold compartment.

The platform deck according to the third aspect further may include:

- an upper portion configured at least partially as a duct configured for conveying air between means for cooling and an air passageway provided in an upper face of the platform deck, and

- a lower portion configured at least partially as a duct configured for conveying air between means for cooling and an air passageway provided in a lower face of the platform deck.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a method of transporting palletized cargo under conditions wherein temperature and air composition are controlled.

According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a method of transporting palletized cargo in a container ship.

According to a sixth aspect, the present invention relates to a method of converting a container hold of a container ship into a refrigerated cargo hold configured for transport of palletized cargo on platform decks. The method according to the sixth aspect in particular constitutes a method of converting, possibly as a retrofit, a container hold into a combined refrigerated cargo hold and a container hold. The method includes the steps of, in an arbitrary order:

- thermally insulating the container hold,

- providing means for cooling inside the container hold and outside

vertical cells defined by cell guides,

- providing at least one platform deck configured to be conveyed

vertically, by hoisting means and within cell guides arranged inside the container hold, to the container hold section. The at least one platform deck is configured for guiding air from the means for cooling to a cargo holding space above the at least one platform deck. The at least one platform deck further is configured for guiding return air to the means for cooling from a cargo holding space below the at least one platform deck.

The method according to the sixth aspect further may include a step of providing container or platform deck stoppers in the cell guides such that the container or platform deck stoppers are configured for maintaining the at least one platform deck in a certain height within the cell guides above a bottom face of the cargo hold section.

The expression "refrigeration" is throughout this specification intended to denote a process or a condition wherein the temperature of a space or an item is controlled. The expression as such therefore also denotes only limited cooling, possibly to a level of only 1 °C or similar below the space or the item's uncooled temperature. The expression "refrigeration" may in the context of this specification therefore not be taken to denote freezing or deep-freezing only.

The expression "cell guide" is throughout this specification intended to denote a relatively strong vertical structure, preferably constructed of metal, installed into a ship's cargo hold. The cell guides guide containers and platform decks into well-defined rows, or cells, during the loading process and provide some support for the cargo against any rolling of the ship.

The expression "weather deck" is throughout this specification intended to denote any deck exposed to the outside, i.e. a weather deck within the meaning of this specification forms an upwardly oriented closure of a ship's hull.

The expression "main deck" is throughout this specification intended to denote a deck extending between the forward and after ends of a ship. The main deck may constitute the highest water tight deck of the ship, which may also be denoted "upper deck", or in designs wherein the main deck is exposed to weather, the main deck may be denoted "weather deck". The expressions "aft", "after" or "rear" are throughout this specification intended to denote a portion of a ship lying behind the middle portion of the ship.

The expressions "fwd" or "forward" are throughout this specification intended to denote a portion of a ship lying in front of the middle portion of the ship.

Background

Perishable cargoes such as bananas and the like are transported over substantial distances primarily by ships. The perishable cargo is packed in boxes and stowed on pallets stored on board a ship, either in refrigerated containers or directly on decks of dedicated reefer ships having cargo compartments configured for accurate climatic control of conditions within the space accommodating the cargo.

GB 2037414 A (MARITERM AB) discloses stackable container flats having perforated floors. The flats are arranged in side by side relationship within a cargo hold adjacent to a mobile cooling unit. The mobile cooling unit includes an air cooling plant and a heat insulating cover tarpaulin. The tarpaulin is arranged to extend over a portion of the top parts of the flats associated with the cooling unit. The tarpaulin is shaped so as to facilitate an even

distribution of the air. The flats may be provided with heat insulated end walls.

European Patent No. 10 35 998 B (NIELSEN) discloses a refrigerated cargo ship comprising an insulated refrigerated cargo hold section arranged essentially amidships. The ship according to the disclosure is configured for accommodating a second cargo in the form of containers. The containers are stowed vertically in cargo holds arranged aft and forward of the refrigerated cargo hold section. The refrigerated cargo hold section according to EP 10 35 998 B is configured for accommodating perishable cargoes such as bananas and the like under favourable conditions and the refrigerated cargo hold section is not configured for accommodation of containers.

A refrigerated cargo ship according to the said European Patent No. 10 35 998 B is today considered state of the art within the area of reefer ship design. This primarily is due to the facts that the design on one hand allows for excellent climatic control inside the section configured for accommodating the perishable cargo, and on the other hand because the design allows for carriage of a large number of containers, refrigerated or not, with or without simultaneous carriage of reefer cargo and/or water ballast. The excellent climatic control inside the refrigerated cargo hold section is achieved through an uncompromised ventilation and air distribution system which is superior to that of refrigerated containers and a number of prior art proposals for carrying containers inside a container hold. A refrigerated cargo ship having a dedicated refrigerated cargo hold section is considered a highly advanced and expensive ship, the construction of which is justified only by the mere fact that refrigerated containers as well as prior art container holds provide only limited ability to maintain optimum carriage conditions for sensitive cargoes such as bananas and the like.

US patent 6,230,640 B (NORDSTROM et al.) discloses a ship including a hollow interior defining a cargo area surrounded by thermal insulation.

Refrigeration units are arranged in the cargo area. A plurality of cargo containers may be stacked within the cargo area at a certain distance from the refrigeration units. The cargo containers accommodate cargo and are provided with a plurality of passageways for air such that cooled air from the refrigeration units may circulate through the containers held in the cargo area. This configuration is considered not to provide the excellent climatic conditions of that of a dedicated reefer ship. The reason is that the air distribution through the space for accommodating palletized cargo is less than optimal.

US 4,428,318 A (BREMER VULKAN) discloses a proposal for a ventilation arrangement for a cargo ship. The arrangement includes at least one air circulation system for circulating air from means for cooling through the cargo. The circulation system includes air supply and air exhaust ducts arranged in the cargo hold. Container guides are located in the hold for receiving and aligning a number of cargo containers adjacent at least the air ducts. The container guides are also useful for receiving and positioning a plurality of cargo pallets; each pallet has a load-bearing surface on which break-bulk and other cargo can be placed. Each pallet load-bearing surface is defined by a hollow ventilation base which, as the pallet is positioned in the container guides can be connected by a suitable connection to an adjacent air supply duct. Openings are provided on an upper face of the load-bearing surface of each pallet from the interior of the base for flow of air from the base into the cargo area of the pallet. This configuration is also considered not to provide the excellent climatic conditions of that of a dedicated reefer ship. The reason is again that the air distribution through the space for accommodating palletized cargo is less than optimal. US 2008146137 A (MOSUNIC MARK ANTHONY) discloses a multi-purpose cargo hold configured for circulating conditioned air through multiple levels and types of cargo situated therein. Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for shipping and conditioning air surrounding cargo on a carrier vessel comprising the steps of loading cargo onto a loading means; forming a plurality of air gaps throughout the cargo in the cargo hold; placing supply and return air plenums in fluid communication with one another; and delivering and circulating conditioned air to cargo via an air conditioning means. This configuration again is considered not to provide the excellent climatic conditions of that of a dedicated reefer ship. The reason is that the ventilating air is required to pass through a plurality of pallets accommodating cargo whereby large temperature gradients are unavoidable.

Controlling the climatic conditions within a cargo space accommodating e.g. bananas is vital as the time allotted for transit of the cargo is utilized for controlled ripening of the perishable cargoes. The ripening process of some cargoes begins already during inland transport and continues while the cargo is underway by ship. Therefore, precise tuning and control of the carriage conditions together with the arrival time of the ship is very important for the sensitive logistic in perishable goods transport.

As precise control of carriage conditions inside refrigerated containers for various reasons is difficult, transport of sensitive perishable cargo preferably is performed in dedicated refrigerated cargo hold sections of refrigerated cargo ships or "reefer ships".

As mentioned above, refrigerated cargo ships are designed with

compartments for carriage of containers and compartments for carriage of palletized goods. As the container compartments cannot provide the required precise control of carriage conditions, and as the reefer compartments cannot accommodate containers, today's combined reefer/container ships are not considered compliant with today's varying shipping markets where e.g. banana transport is a seasonal cargo. For these and other reasons, ship designers and operators strive in setting forth a solution allowing for increased utilization of the tonnage while reducing the acquisition cost of the said tonnage.

It is an object of the present invention to set forth an invention meeting the aspects according to the preamble of this specification, preferably wherein the performance of a dedicated refrigerated cargo hold section is transferred to a dedicated container hold section.

Brief description of the invention

According to the present invention, the above object is met by the provision of a ship according to the introductory part of this specification wherein the cargo hold section further includes thermal insulation arranged to, essentially or not, surround one or more of the cargo spaces, or vertical cargo cells, defined by the cell guides.

A ship configured according to the above allows palletized reefer cargoes to be stowed and transported in a container hold provided with cell guides under conditions which ventilation wise is controlled as per a dedicated refrigerated hold compartment of a classical refrigerated cargo ship.

A ship configured according to the above further has the advantage, that in low seasons for classical refrigerated cargo, the ship may operate as a pure container ship.

A ship configured according to the above further has the advantage that the ship owner or operator, during new building project planning, will not have to decide whether to build a dedicated reefer ship or a container ship including spaces for refrigerated containers and thereby compromising his ability to provide a very high quality of the conditions of the space wherein the refrigerated cargo is to be stowed. A ship configured according to the above further enables a ship owner or an operator to obtain greater earnings per voyage, as a greater part of the ship's deadweight is freed entailing increased payload.

The deadweight is the total weight, which a ship is allowed to carry i.e.

payload, water ballast, fuel, stores and crew etc.

According to one embodiment, the thermal insulation may be arranged to surround the cargo hold section. Several cargo hold sections may or may not be insulated as one compartment.

According to one embodiment, the ship further may include at least one platform deck configured to be conveyed vertically, by hoisting means, within the cell guides. The at least one platform deck may form part of the cargo hold such that the at least one platform deck and the cargo constitute a system.

According to one embodiment, at least one platform deck may be configured for, by means of internal ducting, guiding air from the means for cooling to a cargo holding space above and/or below the at least one platform deck.

According to one embodiment, the at least one platform deck may include one or both of:

- an upper portion configured to convey air between the means for

cooling and an air passageway provided in an upper face of the at least one platform deck (90), and/or

- a lower portion configured to convey air between the means for

cooling and an air passageway provided in a lower face of the at least one platform deck.

According to one embodiment, container or platform deck stoppers may be arranged in the cell guides. The stoppers may be arranged to selectively protrude into the vertical cargo cell defined by the cell guides. The stoppers may be arranged and configured for maintaining at least one platform deck in a certain height within, or in-between, the cell guides, preferably above a bottom face of the cargo hold section.

According to one embodiment, the stoppers may be configured and disposed for maintaining at least two platform decks in certain heights within the cell guides, one platform deck above the other platform deck. The height between the stoppers, or the vertical distance between the stoppers, may be equivalent to, or slightly more than, the height of an intermodal freight container, i.e. the vertical distance between the stoppers may be 8'6" / 2.6m or 9'6" / 2.9m plus abt. 30cm.

According to other embodiments, the stoppers may be spaced apart, along the longitudinal axis of the cell guides, about 2.9 m. In other embodiments, the stoppers may be spaced apart about 2.8, 3.0 or 3.1 m.

According to one embodiment, the stoppers may be arranged to support a container or a platform deck in each of the lower four corners of the container or platform deck.

According to one embodiment, said cargo hold section may be configured for accommodating refrigerated palletized cargo on one or more platform decks. According to one embodiment, the cargo hold section further may include at least one air cooler space and, optionally, also an air cooler arranged within the air cooler space.

According to one embodiment, the cargo hold section may include a plurality of air cooler spaces including one or more air coolers. The air cooler spaces may further be arranged one above the other and each arranged at heights within the ship equivalent to that of the stoppers. According to one embodiment, the air cooler spaces may be arranged to supply or receive air through ducting or air passageways arranged in a lower portion of the air cooler space or spaces, and to supply or receive air through ducting or air passageways arranged in an upper portion of the air cooler space or spaces.

According to one embodiment, the means for cooling the cargo hold section may constitute air coolers configured to provide or establish air circulation oriented essentially parallel or transverse to a longitudinal axis of the ship.

According to one embodiment, the least one platform deck may include an air duct configured to convey air between the means for cooling and an air passageway provided in an upper face of the at least one platform deck. The air passageways provided in the upper face of the platform deck may resemble, or equate to, that of air distributing gratings in a refrigerated hold of reefer ship.

According to one embodiment, the at least one platform deck may include a plurality of air passageways arranged to establish an essentially uniform flow of air in or out of an upper face of the platform deck. The air passageways provided in the upper face of the platform deck may resemble that of air distributing gratings in a refrigerated hold of reefer ship.

According to one embodiment, the at least one platform deck may include an air duct configured to convey air between the means for cooling and an air passageway provided in a lower face of the at least one platform deck.

According to one embodiment, the at least one platform deck may include:

- an upper portion configured to convey air between the means for

cooling and an air passageway provided in an upper face of the at least one platform deck, and - a lower portion configured to convey air between the means for cooling and an air passageway provided in a lower face of the at least one platform deck. According to one embodiment, the upper portion and the lower portion of the platform deck may be separated by an essentially air tight separation, possibly also by thermal insulation.

According to one embodiment, the hatch cover may be thermally insulated, and further, the hatch cover may or may not include an air passage way configured for conveying air from a cargo holding space to the means for cooling.

According to one embodiment, the cell guides may be configured to guide a container or a platform deck from the access hatch, or opening, down to a bottom face of the cargo hold section.

According to one embodiment, the cargo hold section may include an air cooler space and a cargo holding space. The air cooler space and the cargo holding space may be separated by means of a wall or equivalent. The wall or equivalent may include thermal insulation.

According to one embodiment, the at least one platform deck may be configured to convey air to or from the means for cooling the cargo hold section to or from a cargo holding space within the cargo hold section.

According to one embodiment, the cargo hold section further may include means for supressing oxygen contents in the air inside cargo hold section. The means may constitute nitrogen generators and the like.

According to one embodiment, the ship according to the present invention may be a container ship or a reefer ship. According to other aspects of the present invention, a cargo hold section, a platform deck and a method of transporting palletized cargo is set forth.

These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice and use the present invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The various embodiments disclosed herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is a principal longitudinal section through a ship according to an aspect of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a principal longitudinal section through a cargo hold section according to an aspect of the present invention.

Figure 3 is another principal longitudinal section through a cargo hold section according to an aspect of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates principally a stopper arranged in a cell guide.

Figure 5 also illustrates principally a pair of stoppers arranged in cell guides.

Figure 6 is a principal top view in a container hold section according to one aspect of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through a platform deck according to one aspect of the present invention. Detailed description of the invention with reference to the figures

The invention will be explained below in detail and with reference to the figures.

Figure 1 shows an example of a longitudinal section through a ship according to an aspect of the present invention. As can be seen in the figure, the ship 1 include a hull 5 and a plurality of cooled, or actively cooled, cargo hold sections 20 configured for accommodating containers 100 and palletized cargo 110.

The ship 1 according to the longitudinal sectional view of figure 1 include a total of four cooled cargo hold sections 20 configured as per one aspect of the present invention.

The ship may, without departing from the scope of the present invention and in addition to the one or more cooled cargo hold sections 20, include any number of additional and not cooled container or cargo hold sections or spaces 21.

As can be seen in the figure, the cooled cargo hold sections 20 may be arranged essentially in a central part 70 of the ship 1. Although not shown in the figures, the cooled cargo hold sections 20 may equally be arranged in the forward part 50 of the ship or the aft. part 60 of the ship. Further, the cooled cargo hold sections 20 may, as shown, be arranged as neighbouring or consecutive cargo holds, however this may be departed from without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The cooled cargo hold sections 20 are in the depicted embodiments arranged essentially below the weather deck of the ship 1. Although not show in the figures, one or more cooled cargo hold sections may extend from a level below the weather deck or main deck to a height above, or well above, the weather deck or the main deck. This may be the situation if the ship is designed as an "open top" container ship where the hatches of the cargo holds may be closed by means of a thermal cover or equivalent.

The cooled cargo hold section 20 may, as shown in figures 1 , 2, 3 and 6 define a cargo holding space or chamber 25 and an air cooler space 81. The spaces 25 and 81 may be separated possibly by means of insulation or partition walls 86 as shown on figure 3.

The cooled cargo hold sections 20 may be thermally insulated by means of insulation 10 essentially surrounding the cooled cargo hold sections 20. The insulation 10 may be applied to the cooled cargo hold section 20 in the form of panels or by means of spraying foam or equivalent onto the faces to be insulated. Other ways of insulating the cooled cargo hold sections 20 may equally be applied.

The cooled cargo hold sections 20 may include thermally insulated and removable hatch covers 30 configured for closure of the access hatches 15. The hatch covers 30 may constitute pontoon type "lift away" hatch covers or hatch covers 30 configured as foldable panel type hatch covers or equivalent.

The hatch covers 30 may include air ducts configured for guiding air between an air cooler 80 and cargo holding spaces 25.

The cooled cargo hold sections 20, or the cargo holding spaces 25, further may include cell guides 40 such as shown in the figures. The cell guides 40 are disposed as to horizontally guide the four outer corners of a container 00 or a platform deck 90 to be stowed in the cargo hold, and the cell guides 40 thereby define vertical cells 42. The effects of arranging cell guides 40 in a cooled cargo hold section 20 according to the present invention inter alia are: - facilitating guidance, during hoisting and lowering, of the cargo inside the often very high cargo cells,

- provide support for the cargo against any rolling of the ship,

- together with stoppers 41 , provide support for the platform decks 90 at heights essentially equivalent to the heights of air cooler spaces 81 ,

- together with stoppers 41 , provide support for the platform decks 90 such that a plurality of platform decks 90 may be stowed one above the other while accommodating palletized cargo 110. The vertical cells 42 defined by the cell guides 40 may be divided into separate cells by provision of longitudinal bulkheads or walls 43 arranged vertically in between the cells 42. The separation may be beneficial in case one would like to prevent flow of air between neighbouring cells 42. Further, the vertical cells 42 defined by the cell guides 40 may be divided into separate cells by means of provision of longitudinal bulkheads or walls 43 comprising insulation. Such separation may be beneficial in case one would like to maintain different temperatures in neighbouring cells 42, see figure 6.

The cooled cargo hold sections 20, or the cargo holding spaces 25, further include one or more platform decks 90 configured to be conveyed vertically, by not shown hoisting means, within the cell guides 40. The platform decks

90 preferably have footprints equivalent to that of a forty foot container, i.e.

12.2 meters long and 8 feet/ 2.4 meters wide whereby the platform decks 90 will correspond directly to today's standardized container cells for forty foot containers. The platform decks 90 may however be embodied as to have footprints equivalent to other unit sizes such at twenty foot containers or forty-five foot containers etc.

The one or more platform decks 90 may include corner castings 96 of a type equivalent to that of standardized containers. The corner castings 96 will facilitate handling e.g. by means of a not shown spreader. The spreader or equivalent may engage the corner castings 96 of the platform deck 90 via not shown rods or linkages or equivalent. As the platform decks 90 may have footprints equivalent to that of a forty foot container, the platform decks will be able to accommodate 24 standard pallets having a footprint of 1 m ^χ 1.2 m. A refrigerated forty foot container is able to accommodate only 20 pallets due to loss of space occupied by the walls of the container as well as the reefer machinery, hence 4 more pallets may be handled under each loading operation of a crane or equivalent.

The platform deck 90 allows for cargo access around the platforms periphery and time required for packing a platform is therefore considerably reduced compared to the time required for packing a container.

Further, in order to place pallets inside a conventional container, the flooring material of the container is required to withstand relatively high shaft loads, whereas a platform deck 90 according to the present invention does not require wheeled vehicles to travel on the deck as cargo may be accessed from all sides of the platform deck 90.

As shown in figures 3 and 7, the platform decks 90 may include or define one or more air ducts 91 , or upper air ducts, configured to convey air between means for cooling 80, 81 and one or more air passageways 92, or holes, provided in an upper face of the platform deck 90. The air passageways 92, or holes, may be arranged to establish an essentially uniform flow of air in or out of the upper face of platform deck 90. The provision of an essentially uniform flow in or out through the upper face of the platform deck 90 will resemble the effect of grating typically provided inside dedicated reefer hold spaces.

Further, the one or more platform decks 90 may include or define one or more air ducts 94, or lower air ducts, configured to convey air between means for cooling 80, 81 , and an air passageway 95 provided in a lower face of the platform deck 90. The air passageways 95, or holes, may be arranged like the air passageways 92 arranged in the upper face of the platform deck 90. It may however be preferred to provide the air passage ways 95, or holes, in the lower face of the platform deck 90 such that air is forced to flow across the cargo holding space 25 accommodating the palletized cargo 110 outside containers, such as shown in figure 3.

The direction of flow as per figures 3 and 7 is from the upper face of the platform deck 90, up through the cargo holding space 25, and back to the means for cooling 80, 81 via the lower portion of the above platform deck 90. Although not shown in the figures, the direction of flow could be reversed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The one or more platform decks 90 may or may not be configured such that the upper portion and the lower portions of the one or more platform decks 90 are separated by thermal insulation whereby different temperature zones may be maintained on different sides of the one or more platform decks 90. Further, the thermal insulation may prevent transfer of heat in between return flow air and forward flow of air within the one or more platform decks 90.

The one or more platform decks 90 may include an end face, or a contacting face, or an air connecting face, configured for establishing air

communication, via connecting portion 99, between means for cooling 80, 81 and the passageways 92, 95 arranged in the top and bottom faces of the platform decks 90. The connecting portion 99 may, in between the platform deck 90 and the air cooling means 80, 81 include various forms of not shown means for sealing incl. gaskets etc.

Figures 4 and 5 shows stoppers 41 , or vertical stoppers, arranged to support containers 100 or platform decks 90 in the cell guides 40 such that a plurality of containers 100 and/or platform decks 90 may be stowed one above the other while bases or bottoms the of containers and/or platform decks are separated by a height essentially equivalent to that of a container. The stoppers 41 may be integrated at certain levels or heights in the cell guides 40 such that platform decks 90 may rest on the stoppers at heights equivalent to the heights of the cooling spaces. The heights wherein the stoppers 41 are arranged preferably may be selected such that a pallet incl. cargo may be accommodated on top of the platform deck 90 underneath another platform deck 90.

Container stoppers 41 are available in a variety of types and the type depicted in figures 4 and 5 is a simple type where a stopping bar via simple rotation are brought into engagement inside the path of the cell guide 40.

Although not shown in the figures, the stoppers 40 and/or the platform decks 90 may be configured, possibly by means of inclined support faces, as to urge the platform decks 90 incl. air passageways towards air inlets and air outlets configured to be in communication with air cooling means in order to facilitate closure of the connecting portion 99 between the platform deck 90 and the air cooling means 80, 81.

The air cooling means may, as shown in figures 1 , 2, 3, and 6 include an air cooling space 81 accommodating an air cooler 80. The air cooling space 81 incl. the air cooler 80 may resemble that of a dedicated refrigerated cargo ship. Further, the air coolers 81 may be in communication with a not shown reefer plant configured either for direct expansion in the air coolers 80 or for heat transfer via a brine system.

The air coolers 80 may be configured for circulating the air in the cargo holding space 25 through the air cooler 80 about 70 - 140 times per hour, possibly, 80 - 120 times per hour or about 100 times per hour. The air cooling spaces 81 may or may not be separated from the cargo holding space or chamber 25 within the cargo hold section 20. The separation may be realized by means of bulkheads or partition walls 86, and the separation may or may not include means for thermal insulation. The air coolers 80 and/or the air cooler spaces 81 may be arranged to supply and/or receive air through ducting or air passageways arranged in a lower portion of an air cooler 80 or air cooler space 81 and to supply or receive air through ducting or air passageways arranged in an upper portion of the air cooler 80 or air cooler space 81.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a platform deck 90 is provided. The platform deck 90 may include one or more of the below:

- a structure configured for carrying 20-24 loads in the form of palletized goods, where each pallet weigh about 1 ton,

- a footprint equivalent to that of a forty foot container, i.e. 12.2 meters long and 8 feet/ 2.4 meters wide whereby the platform decks 90 will correspond directly to today's standardized container cells for forty foot containers. The platform decks 90 may however be embodied as to have footprints equivalent to other unit sizes such at twenty foot containers or forty-five foot containers etc.

- means for lifting the platform deck. The means may constitute holes or corner castings 96 of a type equivalent to that of standardized containers. The means for lifting may be arranged in the upper or lower four corners of the platform deck 90.

- one or more air ducts 91 , or upper air ducts, configured to convey air between means for cooling 80, 81 and one or more air passageways 92, or holes, provided in an upper face of the platform deck 90. The air passageways 92, or holes, may be arranged to establish an

essentially uniform flow of air in or out of the upper face of platform deck 90. The provision of an essentially uniform flow in or out through the upper face of the platform deck 90 will resemble the effect of grating typically provided inside dedicated reefer hold spaces. one or more air ducts 94, or lower air ducts, configured to convey air between means for cooling 80, 81 , and an air passageway 95 provided in a lower face of the platform deck 90. The air passageways 95, or holes, may be arranged like the air passageways 92 arranged in the upper face of the platform deck 90. It may however be preferred to provide the air passage ways 95, or holes, in the lower face of the platform deck 90 such that air is forced to flow across the cargo holding space 25 accommodating the palletized cargo 110 outside containers, such as shown in figure 3. an end face, or an air connecting face, configured for establishing air communication, via connecting portion 99, between means for cooling 80, 81 and the

The platform deck 90 may be configured to be conveyed vertically, by hoisting means, within cell guides 40 arranged within a container hold. The platform deck 90 may be configured for guiding air from cooling means 80 for cooling to a cargo holding space disposed on a top face of the platform deck 90. The platform deck further may be configured for guiding return air to cooling means 80 for cooling from a cargo holding space below the platform deck 90 when the platform deck 90 is disposed in, or in-between, cell guides 40 inside a container hold compartment.

The platform deck 90 further may include:

- an upper portion configured at least partially as a duct configured for conveying air between means 80 for cooling and an air passageway 92 provided in an upper face of the platform deck 90, and/or

- a lower portion configured at least partially as a duct configured for conveying air between means 80 for cooling and an air passageway 95 provided in a lower face of the platform deck 90. The application and combination of features and solutions presented by the present invention is not limited to the presented embodiments. One or more features of one embodiment can and may be combined with one or more features of other embodiments, whereby not described but valid,

embodiments of the present invention may be obtained.

The term "comprises/comprising/comprised of when used in this

specification incl. claims is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

Claims:

1. A ship (1) including a hull (5) and a cargo hold section (20) configured for accommodating intermodal shipping containers (100), said cargo hold section (20) is arranged essentially within said hull (5), and said cargo hold section (20) inter alia is defined by:

- an essentially upwards facing access hatch (15), or opening, providing access for cargo to said cargo hold section (20),

- a removable hatch cover (30) configured for closure of said access hatch (15),

where said cargo hold section (20) includes:

- a plurality of cell guides (40) extending essentially vertical within, or inside, said cargo hold section (20), said cell guides (40) are arranged to define cargo spaces or vertical cargo cells,

- means (80) for cooling said cargo hold section (20),

characterized in that said cargo hold section (20) further includes thermal insulation (10) arranged to essentially surround one or more of said cargo spaces, or vertical cargo cells, defined by said cell guides (40).

2. A ship according to claim 1 , wherein said thermal insulation is arranged to surround said cargo hold section (20).

3. A ship according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said ship further includes at least one platform deck (90) configured to be conveyed vertically, by hoisting means, within said cell guides (40).

4. A ship according to claim 3, wherein said at least one platform deck (90) is configured for, by means of internal ducting, guiding air from said means (80) for cooling to a cargo holding space above said at least one platform deck (90).

5. A ship according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said at least one platform deck (90) is configured for, by means of internal ducting, guiding return air to said means (80) for cooling from a cargo holding space below said at least one platform deck (90).

6. A ship according to any one or more of the claims 3 to 5, wherein said at least one platform deck (90) includes one or both of:

- an upper portion configured to convey air between said means (80) for cooling and an air passageway (92) provided in an upper face of said at least one platform deck (90), and/or

- a lower portion configured to convey air between said means (80) for cooling and an air passageway (95) provided in a lower face of said at least one platform deck (90).

7. A ship according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein container or platform deck stoppers (41) are arranged in said cell guides (40), said stoppers (41) are arranged and configured for maintaining said at least one platform deck (90) in a certain height within said cell guides (40) above a bottom face of said cargo hold section (20).

8. A ship according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of container or platform deck stoppers (41) are arranged in said cell guides (40), said stoppers (41) are arranged and configured for maintaining at least two platform decks (90) in certain heights within said cell guides (40), one platform deck above the other platform deck.

9. A ship according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said cargo hold section (20) further includes a plurality of air cooler spaces (81) including air coolers (80), and wherein said air cooler spaces (81) are arranged one above the other and at heights equivalent to the heights of said container or platform deck stoppers (41).

10. A ship according to claim 9, wherein said air cooler spaces (81) are arranged to supply and/or receive air through ducting or air passageways arranged in a lower portion of said air cooler space (81) and to supply and/or receive air through ducting or air passageways arranged in an upper portion of said air cooler space (81).

11. A ship according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein . said means (80) for cooling said cargo hold section (20) includes air coolers

(80) configured to provide or establish air circulation oriented essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said ship (1).

12. A ship according to any one or more of the claims 3 to 11 , wherein said at least one platform deck (90) includes an air duct (91) configured to convey air between said means (80) for cooling and an air passageway (92) provided in an upper face of said at least one platform deck (90).

13. A ship according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said cargo hold section (20) is configured for accommodating refrigerated palletized cargo (110) on a platform deck (90).

14. A method of converting a container hold into a combined refrigerated cargo hold and a container hold, said method includes the steps of, in an arbitrary order:

- thermally insulating said container hold,

- providing means (80) for cooling inside said container hold and

outside vertical cells defined by cell guides,

- providing at least one platform deck (90) configured to be conveyed vertically, by hoisting means, and within cell guides (40) arranged inside said container hold, to said container hold section wherein said at least one platform deck (90) is configured for guiding air from said means (80) for cooling to a cargo holding space above said at least one platform deck (90) and wherein said at least one platform deck (90) further is configured for guiding return air to said means (80) for cooling from a cargo holding space below said at least one platform deck (90).

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said method further includes a step of providing container or platform deck stoppers (41) in said cell guides (40) such that said container or platform deck stoppers (41) are configured for maintaining said at least one platform deck (90) in a certain height within said cell guides (40) above a bottom face of said cargo hold section (20).