The effects on cornercastings blocked in this manner become all the more apparent the higher the degree of automation at the terminal: Where an experienced stacker crane, straddle carrier or reach stacker operator may possibly manage to drive the twistlocks into the cornercastings by bringing down the spreader ‘firmly,’ automated stacker cranes or unmanned straddle carriers will inevitably experience a breakdown. The resulting delays are considerable and may mean dramatic losses for the terminal operator.

During the winter 2005/2006 German seaports repeatedly experienced such extreme situations and the corresponding
consequences. In the highly automated Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) of the German HHLA the search for a
solution was under way that would allow fast and reliable clearing of iced corner-castings on container stacks. Having been in the spotlight plenty of times before with the provision of interesting customised solutions, SORT + STORE were commissioned to develop a suitable method.
From PTI 37 page 52. Read the full article here.