Automated shipboard X-Y track material handling and storage method

A method for handling conventional cargo containers within a hold of a vessel wherein the hold includes a plurality of vertically oriented multi-tiered cells in which the cargo containers are selectively stowed one upon another, and wherein the method includes the steps of:

• A. providing a grid track system above the cells of the hold and in spaced relationship with respect to the cells so as to define an open space between an upper tier of the cells and the grid track system and wherein the track system includes pairs of spaced and parallel overhead tracks which intersect with one another in an X-Y plan;
• B. providing at least one transfer unit which is moveable along and supported on pairs of tracks of the grid track system in an X-Y direction with respect to a horizontal plane and wherein the at least one transfer unit includes hoists;
• C. determining a location of a predetermined cargo container to be removed from a cell within the hold of the vessel;
• D. selectively positioning the at least one transfer unit over the aligned cell in which the predetermined cargo container is located;
• E. connecting the hoists to an upper cargo container within the vertically aligned cell and elevating the connected cargo container into the open space adjacent the grid track system;
• F. moving the connected cargo container above an open area or to an open tier within a different cell, and thereafter lowering the connected cargo container to rest within the open area or different cell and disconnecting the hoists from the connected cargo container and moving the at least one transfer unit from above the open area or different cell to above the aligned cell;
• and thereafter repeating steps E and F as is necessary until the predetermined cargo container is exposed to the at least one transfer unit;
• G. connecting the hoists to the predetermined cargo container within the vertically aligned cell and elevating the connected predetermined cargo container into the open space adjacent the grid track system;
• H. moving the connected predetermined cargo container above an open area or to an open tier within a different cell, and thereafter lowering the connected predetermined cargo container to rest within the open area or different cell and disconnecting the hoists from the connected predetermined cargo container and moving the at least one transfer unit from above the open area or different cell;
• and thereafter
• I. elevating the disconnected predetermined cargo container from the open area or different cell and off-loading the disconnected predetermined cargo container from the hull of the vessel.

A method for handling conventional cargo containers being loaded within a hold of a vessel wherein the hold includes a plurality of vertically oriented multi-tiered cells in which the cargo containers are selectively stowed one upon another, and wherein the method includes the steps of:

• A. providing a grid track system above the cells of the hold and in spaced relationship with respect to the cells so as to define an open space between an upper tier of the cells and the grid track system and wherein the track system includes pairs of spaced and parallel overhead tracks which intersect with one another in an X-Y plan;
• B. providing at least one transfer unit which is moveable along and supported on pairs of tracks of the grid track system in an X-Y direction with respect to a horizontal plane and wherein the at least one transfer unit includes hoists;
• C. determining a cell location for a cargo container to be stowed in the cell when being loaded into the hold of the vessel;
• D. lowering a cargo container onto an area of the hold and thereafter selectively positioning the at least one transfer unit over the lowered cargo container;
• E. connecting the hoists to the lowered cargo container and elevating the connected cargo container into the open space adjacent the grid track system;
• and
• F. moving the connected cargo container above predetermined cell and thereafter lowering the connected cargo container to rest within the cell and disconnecting the hoists from the connected cargo container and moving the at least one transfer unit from above the cell to above the aligned cell.