A cellular vessel is a

container ship A container ship (also called boxship or spelled containership) is a cargo ship that carries all of its load in truck-size intermodal containers, in a technique called containerization. Container ships are a common means of commercial intermodal ...

specially designed for the efficient storage of freight containers one on top of other with vertical bracings at the four corners. The majority of vessels operated by

maritime Maritime may refer to: Geography * Maritime Alps, a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps * Maritime Region, a region in Togo * Maritime Southeast Asia * The Maritimes, the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Princ ...

carriers are fully cellular ships. Before 1991 most containerships were constructed with hatch covers. Because of the longer loading and unloading times of these types of ships, the cellular type was invented. As loading and unloading occurs only vertically and the containers have standardized dimensions ( TEU), large quantities of cargo can quickly be loaded using gantry cranes. Advantages: * The cargo handling is more efficient resulting in shorter time in port * Guide rails hold the containers into place instead of time-consuming lashings * No need of hatch covers, reducing maintenance, weight, and handling * There is a high freeboard, resulting in a stronger construction * Containers lashed to cellular vessels are less vulnerable to crew tampering than containers on mixed-use cargo vessels, making them less of a risk from the standpoint of

port security Port security is part of a broader definition concerning maritime security. It refers to the defense, law and treaty enforcement, and counterterrorism activities that fall within the port and maritime domain. It includes the protection of the sea ...

. Disadvantages: * The high freeboard results in higher registered

tonnage Tonnage is a measure of the cargo-carrying capacity of a ship, and is commonly used to assess fees on commercial shipping. The term derives from the taxation paid on ''tuns'' or casks of wine. In modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically ref ...

* The price of the ship is high due to the amount of steel used and the complex design process * The absence of hatch covers means that rain water and overcoming seawater can freely enter into the cargo

hold Hold may refer to: Physical spaces * Hold (ship), interior cargo space * Baggage hold, cargo space on an airplane * Stronghold, a castle or other fortified place Arts, entertainment, and media * Hold (musical term), a pause, also called a Fermat ...

. Therefore, higher requirements of bilge systems are applicable to open cargo holds

References

Intermodal containers {{ship-type-stub