Text C. Side Doors and Loaders

Side door/ramps are available for ro-ro operations and are similar to stern door/ramp installations. Most side door installations, however, are intended for quayside fork lift operations with palletized cargo being loaded onto a platform at the door by the quayside forklift and stowed in the ship by another forklift truck. Instead of a loading platform on ships trading to ports with high tidal ranges a ramp onto which the quayside forklift truck drives may be fitted. Elevator platforms may be fitted immediately inboard of the side door to service various tween decks and the hold. A particular type of elevator system is that developed for the transportation of paper products especially newsprint. The quayside forklift places the newsprint rolls on the height-adjustable loading platform which together with the elevator platform is fitted with roller conveyors. Movement of the roller conveyors is automatic, the newsprint rolls being transferred from the loading platform to the elevator platform which travels to the pre-selected deck or hold level for unloading.

Upward folding doors with hydraulic cylinders actuating the hinge are usually fitted to the side opening, the load platform being fitted inside the door and hinged at the bottom of the opening, automatically being lowered when the door is opened. Combined side door/hatch covers are fitted in designs where the ship is low in the water relative to the height of quay in order to provide sufficient head room for forklift truck operation. With the side port elevator system referred to above a combined door/hatch is fitted to the hatch carrying part of the tower which houses the upper part of the cargo elevator.

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