Container Securing and Lashing Analysis:

HEC has been a pioneer in the development and analysis of container deckload lashing systems and components. Many of the systems developed by HEC and our early containership clients, Matson and American President Lines, have become industry standards worldwide. Some notable accomplishments are:

  • Herbert Engineering’s Legacy in Containerization and Lashing System Design:

    • Standardization of Corner Castings & Twist-locks
      HEC collaborated with Matson and key figures like Robert Herbert in the early standardization of container corner castings and twist-locks, contributing to the ISO standard adopted in 1965. This critical development enabled seamless intermodal transfer across sea, rail, and trucking sectors. HEC also supported the design and testing of semi-automatic twist-locks in the 1980s.

    • Container Strength Analysis
      HEC conducted foundational research into the structural behavior of containers, culminating in a landmark 1977 SNAME Marine Technology paper. This study analyzed the strength and stiffness of container elements, allowing for optimized load sharing between lashings and containers—maximizing stacking efficiency while maintaining safety.

    • Advanced Lashing System Engineering
      Since the late 1960s, HEC has led the design and analysis of container lashing systems. We developed proprietary lashing analysis software in the 1970s, helping define industry best practices and safety standards. Since 1980, we’ve worked with ABS and other Class societies to evolve guidelines for maximum roll angles, accelerations, and component safety factors. Our current software suite evaluates compliance with all major Classification Society rules, including modern route-specific criteria.

    • Innovation in Lashing System Hardware
      HEC pioneered the design of independent container stacks using semi-automatic twist-locks and cross-lash rods connected to container bridges. Developed in collaboration with Matson and American President Lines in the 1980s and refined in the 1990s, this system became the global standard. Additionally, we introduced lashing bridges—first implemented on Matson’s Islander barge in 1989—which are now ubiquitous on large post-Panamax container vessels.

You can download the ABS guide or view it here:

Building Bridges

We’ve cultivated strong relationships with key stakeholders, including Ports, State and Federal agencies, and environmental groups. Through our collaborative efforts, we’ve spearheaded engineering assessments to tackle complex environmental challenges head-on.