Patent ID: 7341422

Claim:
A method of loading containers comprising the steps of: selecting a plurality of containers adapted to contain and protect freight in a marine environment, each container having a set of outer walls defining an inner volume; loading freight into said inner volume; providing a reach stacker including a body portion and a gripping portion including a spreader attachment, said gripping portion being capable of being raised and lowered, rotated, and inclined relative to said body portion; accessing a marine vessel, wherein said marine vessel has a beam at least about ¼ of its length to provide a relatively stable marine vessel; individually lifting and transporting each container along or adjacent to an upper edge thereof by means of said reach stacker over a ramp to a storage deck of said marine vessel, said ramp and storage deck having sufficient strength to support said reach stacker when said reach stacker is transporting a fully loaded one of said containers; positioning each container at desired locations on said deck by means of said reach stacker for transportation by said marine vessel; and securing each container to said deck at said locations.