South Korean shipbuilding group HD Hyundai has delivered a 13,000 TEU container ship to CMA CGM featuring a partially installed hybrid Lashing-Free system.
According to the company, it is the world’s first vessel of its kind to bring this technology into actual operation.
The key components of the system were developed and verified by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, while HD Hyundai Samho carried out the detailed design and construction of the vessel.
At the core of the concept is the extension of traditional cell guides above deck level, allowing some containers to be secured without conventional manual lashing operations.
The system also uses a portable platform sized like a 40-foot container, which can be handled by standard container cranes. Containers positioned outside the cell-guide area are secured using a dedicated Twistlock Rooting System.
HD Hyundai says the design can increase the weight of cargo carried on deck by more than 10% compared with conventional container ships of a similar type.
The system is also intended to provide more stable container securing in rough seas and strong winds, while reducing manual work for crew and port personnel.
Sea trials conducted in September showed lower vibration levels compared with conventional designs using hatch covers and lashing bridges.
HD Hyundai is already developing the next generation of the system, which is expected to add weather protection and watertight features.
The Lashing-Free technology was presented in 2024 at the 10th session of the International Maritime Organization’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers.
The concept had previously received approval in principle from ABS and the Liberian flag administration, and in 2026 it was recognized with the IR52 Jang Young-shil Award.
The technology could significantly change traditional container-securing operations by increasing cargo capacity while reducing the amount of manual work required on deck.
