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APL Ready To Build 45-Foot Production Unit Containers American President Lines (APL) of Oak- land, Calif., has called for bids for construc- tion of an initial order of 733 forty-five-foot containers (prototype shown above), the world's first, according to Richard L. Hill, vice president for land operations and proj- ect manager. The new containers will have a cargo capacity of 3,035 cubic feet, some 27 percent more than the standard 40-foot container. Because handling and transporta- tion costs are largely determined on a unit basis rather than by the size of the con- tainer, the larger vans are expected to pro- vide significant savings, and to help hold the line on rapidly rising costs. Each container will be 9 feet 6 inches high. The 45-foot container is not expected to replace the standard 20- and 40-foot lengths, and will initially be designated for on-deck stowage only. It is anticipated that APL's 45-footers will be deployed on selected inter- modal routes in order to increase operating efficiency. Initially, they will go into service to haul less-than-containerload (LCL) cargo between major Asian ports and Northeastern U.S. destinations. In March this year, the company an- nounced that it was building two prototype 45-foot containers. Those are being rigor- ously tested. One has commenced a series of trans-Pacific crossings so that the crew and land operations personnel can become familiar with it; the other is undergoing final structural tests by its manufacturer, Fruehauf Corporation, in Detroit. The com- pany has also called for bids to construct several hundred 45-foot chassis, also the first of their kind. The new containers have been designed to be accommodated on existing 89-foot 4-inch standard intermodal railcars, in both the container-on-flatcar (COFC) and trailer-on- flatcar (TOFC) modes, and can be lifted by standard 40-foot container-handling devices. Dual post fittings on the underside of the container make it compatible with the inter- modal transportation concept. The containers will be constructed of aluminum, with steel end frames. They are designed for a payload of 64,300 pounds, and are expected to operate on the inter- state highway system at 50,000 pounds. The company has previously reported that its three C-9 class diesel-powered container- ships, presently under construction, have been designed with a structure that can be modified to accept the 45-foot containers under deck as well as the standard 20- and 40-foot lengths. Those vessels, with a cargo capacity of 2,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), will be the largest of their kind ever built in the U.S. get get MATTON TRANSPORTATION CO INC The Turecamo fleet of modern, powerful tugs is available around-the-clock for the docking and un- docking of ships of all sizes. Over the years, Turecamo tugs have also established an enviable record in all phases of sound, harbor, coastwise and canal towing. Put this experience to work for you. DOCKING • UNDOCKING-harbor, sound, coastwise, canal and lake towing TURECAMO COASTAL & HARBOR TOWING CORP. P.O. BOX 201 ONE EDGEWATER STREET OYSTER BAY, N.Y. 11771 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. 10305 TEL: (212) 442-7400 TURECAMO MATTON TURECAMO TANKERS TRANSPORTATION CORP SHIPYARD co INC INC the best TURECAMO on your side 5WL AIT MOO IBS. "I7'5INFLATION.-7H
