Safety comes first when fitting out a ship's deck or a pontoon. At the same time, cargo changes regularly in practice. One voyage there are containers on deck, the next it's machinery or large components built specifically for a project. That calls for a deck that moves with the job at hand. A base plate offers a practical solution here. It's welded to the deck and forms a solid foundation onto which, depending on the situation, a twistlock or a lashing eye can be fitted. That way, the deck stays suited to different applications without needing to be adjusted every time.
How containers are secured worldwide
In sea transport, a container is mechanically locked to the deck using a twistlock. It engages the container's corner castings. These corner castings are standardised worldwide under ISO 1161, so containers and twistlocks fit together the same way anywhere in the world. Handling, stacking and securing containers is covered by ISO 3874, which sets out guidelines for safe container handling and securing, including the use of twistlocks.
Securing containers on board also falls under the IMO Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code), which describes how containers must be safely stowed and secured during sea transport. A twistlock stops a container shifting or coming loose within the loads the system is designed for. The forces generated by the ship's movement are transferred through the twistlock and base plate to the structure underneath.
Securing cargo when no containers are on board
Not every voyage carries containers. Sometimes machinery, steel structures or other large components are shipped that don't fit a standard container. In that case, a lashing eye can be fitted to the same base plate. The lashing eye then serves as an anchor point for lashing rods or chains. Tensioning them secures the cargo. The forces generated by the ship's motion at sea are carried through the lashing eye into the deck. Once no longer needed, the lashing eye can be easily removed. The fixed base stays in place, but the deck remains free of protruding parts when they're not required.
Breech Base Deck Socket DF-66
Deck Socket DF-31
The base plate as a fixed foundation
The base plate becomes part of the steel deck structure. It forms the fixed attachment point onto which the right component is fitted for each situation: a twistlock for securing containers, or a lashing eye for other cargo. Several versions are available. On some models, the twistlock or lashing eye slides in from the side; on others, it's fitted from above. The choice depends on the space available on deck and the way the work is carried out.
The principle stays the same: a single, fixed, welded base makes it possible to switch quickly between container transport and other types of cargo.
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A flexible, future-ready setup
Working with base plates keeps a deck usable for multiple purposes. There are no fixed obstacles in the way when they're not needed, while a reliable attachment point is always available the moment the situation calls for one. For shipowners and operators, that means a single structural choice supports multiple applications: containers today, special cargo tomorrow.
