Final Report for Publication UTI-Norm Contract No JC-98-RS.5039 Project: Current State of Standardisation and Future Standardisation Needs for Intermodal Loading Units in Europe Coordinator: Bureau International des Containers et du Transport Intermodal, Paris, France Partners: HaCon Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Hannover, Germany Three Quays Marine Sercvices , London, United Kingdom UIRR, Bruxelles, Belgium Project Duration: 01 November 1998 to 30 September 1999 Date: 28 September 1999 PROJECT FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION UNDER THE TRANSPORT RTD PROGRAMME UNDER THE 4thFRAMEWORK PROGRAMME 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE PARTNERSHIP ....................................................................................... 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................... 9 1. THE CURRENT SITUATION .................................................................. 13 1.1 THE CURRENT STANDARDISATION WORK IN THE FIELD OF INTERMODAL TRANSPORT ..................................................................................... 13 1.1.1 General considerations .................................................................................... 13 1.1.2 The work of ISO TC 104 ................................................................................. 14 1.1.2.1 Structure of TC 104 ..................................................................................................... 14 1.1.2.2 Current standards of TC 104 ....................................................................................... 17 1.1.2.3 Short history of TC 104 standardisation ..................................................................... 31 1.1.2.4 Number of containers in operation ............................................................................. 34 1.1.3 The Work of CEN TC 119 ............................................................................... 35 1.1.3.1 Some basic questions related to European CEN standardisation .............................. 35 1.1.3.2 The structure of CEN TC 119 ...................................................................................... 36 1.1.3.3 Current standards of CEN TC 119 .............................................................................. 38 1.1.3.4 Short history of CEN 119 standardisation .................................................................. 43 1.1.3.5 Number of standard swap bodies in operation ........................................................... 44 1.1.4 Standardisation of the logistic chain .............................................................. 46 1.1.4.1 Standardisation of palletised unit loads ...................................................................... 46 1.1.4.2 Standardisation of packages ........................................................................................ 48 1.1.4.3 Conflicts and solutions ................................................................................................ 49 1.1.5 Fringe activities in container standardisation ............................................... 52 1.1.5.1 Aircraft unit load devices standardisation .................................................................. 52 1.1.5.2 Standardisation of off-shore containers ..................................................................... 53 1.1.5.3 Safety standards in Ro-Ro vessels ............................................................................... 53 1.2 NON STANDARDISED UNITS AND THEIR ROLE IN INTERMODAL TRANSPORT ................................................................................................................. 60 1.2.1 General ............................................................................................................. 60 1.2.2 The European domestic container - rail ....................................................... 61 1.2.3 The European domestic container - road ..................................................... 63 1.2.4 Units used in European short sea transports ............................................... 69 1.2.5 The US domestic container ............................................................................ 70 1.2.6 Small and medium size containers ................................................................ 77 1.2.7 Semi-trailers in combined transport ............................................................. 81 1.2.7.1 Semi-trailers in combined transport road/rail ..................................................................... 81 1.2.7.2 Semi-trailer in roll on/roll off - transport ............................................................................ 84 2 1.3 SUMMARY OF THE MAIN DEBATES ABOUT CONTAINER STANDARDISATION ISSUES ..................................................................................... 86 1.3.1 The case of ISO container versus ISO pallet ................................................. 86 1.3.2 The conflict on European domestic containers ............................................. 87 1.3.3 The conflict on ISO series 2 containers ......................................................... 88 2. CONFLICTS IN CURRENT STANDARDISATION AND THEIR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS ............................................................................ 92 2.1 SCENARIOS OF INTERMODAL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS .................................. 92 2.1.1 General Situation .................................................................................................. 92 2.1.2 Road ....................................................................................................................... 92 2.1.3 Rail and Terminal ................................................................................................. 93 2.1.4 Inland Waterway Transport ............................................................................... 94 2.1.5 Short Sea - Ro-Ro Technique ............................................................................. 94 2.1.6 Short Sea - Lift On/Lift-Off Technique ............................................................. 95 2.2 TECHNIQUES AND ECONOMICS OF SHORT SEA TRANSPORT ................... 96 2.2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 96 2.2.2 Ship Design and Construction ........................................................................... 97 2.2.2.1 Vessel Types In Short Sea Trade .......................................................................................... 98 2.2.2.2 Cellular Ships On/Roll Off Ships ? ......................................................................................100 2.2.2.3 General Design Considerations ........................................................................................... 101 2.2.2.4 Impacts Of The Height Of Cargo Units On Cellular Ship Design ..................................... 102 2.2.2.5 Impacts Of The Height Of Cargo Units .............................................................................. 103 2.2.2.6 Impacts Of The Width Of The Cargo Unit On Cellular Ship Design ................................ 103 2.2.2.7 Impacts Of The Width .......................................................................................................... 104 2.2.2.8 Impacts Of The Cargo Unit Length On Cellular Ship Design ........................................... 104 2.2.2.9 Impacts Of The Cargo Unit Length On Ro-Ro Ship Design ............................................. 105 2.2.3 Ship Operations .................................................................................................. 105 2.2.3.1 The Impacts Of The New Standard Units On Ro-Ro Ship Operation ............................... 105 2.2.3.2 The Impacts Of The New Standard Units On Lo-Lo Ship Operation ............................... 106 2.2.4 Economics of Terminal Handling ..................................................................... 107 2.3 TECHNIQUES AND ECONOMICS OF RAIL TRANSPORT ............................... 109 2.3.1 General Considerations ..................................................................................... 109 2.3.2 Dimensions and European Rail Corridors ...................................................... 109 2.3.3 Analysis of Tunnel Gauges Available in Europe ............................................ 110 2.3.4 Platform Railcars and Their Technology ........................................................ 111 2.3.5 Alternative: Improvement of Infrastructure or Low Platform Railcar ...... 114 2.3.6 Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................ 117 2.3.7 Special Review: Double Stacking in European Rail Transport ................... 119 2.4 TECHNIQUES AND ECONOMICS OF INLAND WATERWAY TRANSPORT ............................................................................................................... 124 2.4.1 Current Economics of Inland Waterway Transport in Intermodal Transport ........................................................................................................... 124 3 2.4.1.1 Inland Waterway Transport On The Rhine River System ................................................... 124 2.4.1.2 Side Rivers And Canals ......................................................................................................... 125 2.4.2 Barge Types and Their Influence on European Loading Unit Design .......... 126 2.4.2.1 Cellular Barges ....................................................................................................................