Hoisting frame and method for its use

Hoisting frame for transferring containers, the hoisting frame comprising:

• means, arranged on an upper side of the frame, for connecting the frame to at least two hoisting cables suspended at a mutual distance in a longitudinal direction of the hoisting frame;
• and
• means, arranged on an underside of the frame, for picking up at least one secondary hoisting frame, which secondary hoisting frame has twist-locks for picking up at least one container, a transverse dimension of the secondary hoisting frame corresponding substantially with a transverse dimension of a container,
• wherein the frame is adjustable in a transverse direction between a retracted position, in which a transverse dimension of the frame is at most equal to that of the secondary hoisting frame and the container, and an extended position in which the transverse dimension is larger than that of the secondary hoisting frame, the frame being divided in the longitudinal direction into frame parts that are movable relative to each other at least in a transverse direction, and
• wherein the means for picking up are for picking up a single secondary hoisting frame in the retracted position and for picking up two mutually adjacent secondary hoisting frames in the extended position, the means for picking up including a plurality of pick-up elements distributed on the frame parts and the pick-up elements on one of the frame parts cooperating with the pick-up elements on another one of the frame parts for picking up the single secondary hoisting frame when the frame parts are moved toward each other to the retracted position of the frame.