CHAPTER 6 MARINE AND TERMINAL TRANSPORTABILITY GUIDANCE

TM55-2350-262-14 CHAPTER 6 MARINE AND TERMINAL TRANSPORTABILITY GUIDANCE Section I. 6-1. Scope This chapter provides marine and terminal trans- portability guidance for movement of the M9 ACE. It covers technical and physical characteristics, as well as safety considerations, and prescribes the materials and guidance required to prepare, load, tie down, and unload the vehicle. 6-2. Safety Besides the safety precautions contained in chap- ter 3, the following areas apply: a. All vessel equipment and gear should be inspected before use. b. All stevedore slings and other items used in loading and unloading operations should be checked for their condition and capacity. c. All other precautionary measures and safety regulations peculiar to the loading/unloading site or terminal will be observed. d. Vehicle fuel tanks must be drained and bat- GENERAL tery terminals disconnected. e. Vehicle transmissions must be placed in the neutral position and handbrakes must be set. NOTE When the M9 ACE is loaded on vessels that are adequately ventilated by power blowers, such as those commonly found on the roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ships, fuel tanks need not be drained. 6-3. Water Shipment The M9 ACE can be transported by a great variety of inland waterway cargo carriers, lighters, and barges and by all seagoing cargo vessels. NOTE The methods described in this chapter for lifting and securing the M9 ACE are suggested procedures. Other methods of handling and stowage may be used to accomplish safe delivery without damage. Section Il. LOADING AND SECURING 6-4. General Rules for Stowing a. General. Whenever possible, vehicles should receive the protection of below-deck stowage. In general, good stowage of vehicles means having them placed fore and aft as close together as practical, with minimum spacing (about 4 to 6 inches) between outer vehicles and the sweat- boards. Breakable parts or auxiliary equipment of the vehicles should be adequately protected and secured for shipment. If not shipped on the vehicle, spare parts and on-equipment material should be properly identified as to location or disposition during shipment. Vehicles in the ship’s hold should be blocked in front, in rear, and on both sides of the wheels so that the vehicles cannot move. Individual vehicle blocks should be braced to bulkheads, stanchions, and other vehicle blocks. In addition, all vehicles should be lashed with wire rope or chains to nearby padeyes, bulkheads, or stanchions. b. Lifting. Correct lifting points on the vehicle are the lifting eye provisions atop each of the four extreme corners of the hull’s superstructure as shown in figure 6–1. c. Loading. A check must be made to ensure the hatch girder clearance of the specified vessel is at least 107 inches (272 cm) for the unreduced M9 ACE or 98 inches (249 cm) for the reduced M9 ACE (cupola and exhaust stack removed). The vehicle can be loaded over the beach or from piers onto landing craft, beach discharge and amphibi- ous lighters, landing ship tanks (LST), and landing ship docks (LSD), under its own power or by crane of adequate capacity. The vehicle can also be loaded under its own power onto the deck of barges from pierside when tidal conditions are favorable and ramps are available. The vehicle can be loaded onto seagoing vessels by shoreside or floating cranes of adequate capacity. Jumbo booms and heavy-lift ship’s gear may be used to load the vehicle onto vessels. Also, the vehicle can be driven or towed onto RORO vessels. Since the M9 ACE is amphibious, it can, under favorable condi- tions, swim aboard, or debark from, offshore LST and LSD. However, extreme caution is necessary during amphibious operations because loss of free- board may occur from excessive waves or while turning on the water. 6-1