The objective of this study is to understand the feasibility of the FM Container Concept designed by Caming Solutions (CS). The FM Container concept is a novel and innovative method of lashing and securing maritime containers onboard sea-going vessels that measurably increases operational productivity. The components of the study focus primarily on the market demand, the technical development of the concept, and intellectual property (IP) protection to validate the business case.
Market demand: Shipping lines are taking delivery of ever bigger container ships. In order for these ships to realise their economies of scale to the maximum, the maritime sector as a whole is under pressure to deliver greater levels of efficiency and productivity – particularly in port operations. CS has been working with a reputed expert in the maritime sector who has helped define an approach to the market to validate the demand for the FM Container concept. This input was provided to CS in the form of coaching funded by the Horizon 2020 instrument and results can be found in extracts from the executive summary of his coaching report:
“Consistently during our study, the message was that, with the current circumstances and pressures that the industry faces, any new product or development that improves productivity and reduces cost, will be welcomed by an industry that is struggling to survive with the collapse of freight rates and the need to provide the increased productivity and reduction of cost that the economies of scale from the recent doubling of ship size requires.
The process by ship operators (and terminals) of lashing containers, managing, tracking and maintaining global stocks of twist locks and other lashing equipment, is seen as a process that ties up management time and resources, that could be put to more productive use. One ship operator believed they had two staff per vessel permanently on lashing equipment maintenance.”
CS therefore concludes that, not only is there an appetite to improve on the current lashing and securing systems but, given the prevailing environment in the shipping industry, the timing for a solution like the FM Container concept is favourable.
