A Close up at Cargo Container Lock Lift Mechanism

 Sept 21 -  CARGO EXPLORER - Illustrated Research Study Journal  

A Close up at Cargo Container Lock Lift Mechanism


Today the webcam took a position lower down on the cargo ship and I got a close up view of the actual metal containers . I feel like a mechanic or engineer looking at these contraptions . They have fascinated me for a while now as they are in integral part to actually allowing the container to be lifted .. still don’t know what they are called but I am quite happy for now to just observe and absorb

Making sketch notes for later illustrations. When one is totally unfamiliar with a subject it’s easy to get technical details completely wrong in an illustration .. It’s not easy to find out what these particular fixture holes are called — anyone ??? But I enjoy the process and am hoping to take it slow enough to figure out some basics

TO DO LIST : 

- Find diagrams of parts of a  shipping container
- research tech terminology pertaining the lifting mechanism


All for today ...
onward

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#cargoexplorer

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Cranes and Water

CARGO EXPLORER - Illustrated Research Study Journal  

CRANES AND WATER 

Yesterday I mainly looked at different types of cranes , thise that operate on some kind of rail system, those that seem to be stationary with rotating arms, and others that ar attached to moving vehicles...
beginning to get a feel for the different situations that make different cargo cranes neccessary.

 

 

This little container boat turned up right alongside the cargo boat I was watching, parked next to it and containers were transferred from one boat to the next . This is the first time I have observed side by side cargo transport transfers. I am still marvelling at the logistics of it all

On the Illustration side I have been experimenting with making different types of water textures that might come in useful for depicting river, sea or ocean waves. I found this piece of flat driftwood that had kind of organic indentations, and when rubbed with a dry pencil crayon produced lovely wave like marks.


 

I will make myself a few sheets trying out wax crayons rubbings, pencils and anything else i can think off to get some variety to experiment with


All for today ...
onward

feel free to follow along on instagram
#cargoexplorer
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Container Ships Loading and Unloading

Cargo Shipping Study - Container Ships Loading and Unloading - Research Log- September 2020



A week into my research study on how cargo is shipped around the world, and I am finding it interesting just how hidden this industry is. Many of the loading and unloading goes on in specialised container ports that are inaccessible to the public.

Having looked at some kids literature that is available out there, hardly any at all feature cargo ships or container handling vehicles. Plenty of building and construction site stuff, ferries and cruise ship .. but how are these kids learning about the cargo industry ? Hmm , I guess that might also explain why so many adults dont really know how their stuff actually gets to them.

I have been really enjoying following along the journey of the MCS Feniks this week. This boat seems to manly navigate the canals and rivers around Amsterdam and Rotterdam and there are lots of opportunities to see neighbouring ships, different stations of unloading and loading. I am beginning to get a feel for the daily route of such a boat  or are these called barges? So much to learn, but I feel I have many a good start. Here some pictures of this weeks learning log journal. 

Sketching a bit of loading and unloading action at Waalhaven where MCS Feniks is travelling today ..
never bored looking at all the different cranes

Really interesting study time today watching a second boat pull up alongside and the large crane loading containers from one to another .. I can only imagine what the logistic handling organisation must be like .. fascinating

TO DO LIST: 

• Figure out names of different types of cranes for lodging and unloading
• What is t called when a boat pulls up along side you?
• When is a boat called a barge? When is a boat called a ship?
  

All for today ...
onward

feel free to follow along on instagram
#cargoexplorer
Cargoexplorer Instagram

Cargo ship web cam journey

 September 14 - Research Log

Today  I spent some happy hours being entirely mesmerised by a Dutch webcam affixed to a container ship with absolute close up views of loading the cargo .. at some point the metal box hung on the crane swung so close to the camera That I inadvertently ducked !! What a fab view though .. then the ship took off but alas I don’t read Dutch so currently it’s destination is unknown ... I left the camera on and hopefully will see in the morning where it landed.  It is a smaller boat and just passed a lock which was fascinating to watch .. I’ll look up the name of the webcam tomorrow and post a link on the bloghere

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Cargo Explorer Transport- Illustrated Learning Journal