Study of loading of a universal container during sea transport

Intermodal and combined container transportation is an inseparable part of a sustainable transportation system. Railway transport, in combination with railway ferry services, plays a crucial role within this system. The research presented in this contribution highlights the features of studies on the loading of a universal container when transported by a railway ferry. This research consisted of two stages: a study of the strength of a universal container when transported by a railway ferry, and a study of the container’s stability relative to the frame of a flat wagon. The calculation of the container’s strength was carried out using the finite element method, which is implemented in SolidWorks Simulation. It was established that the stresses in the container structure in the case of its placement on the track farthest from the bulwark exceed the permissible ones by 23%. When the container is placed on the track second from the bulwark, as well as on the middle track, the stresses are within the permissible limits. Studies of the stability against overturning of the container relative to the flat wagon frame showed that in the case of its placement on the track farthest from the bulwark, the container does not maintain equilibrium stability. Therefore, it is recommended to place flat wagons with containers on the track second from the bulwark or the middle tracks. The results of the research will contribute to the creation of recommendations for the safe transportation of containers in combined transport trains by sea, as well as the sustainable development of international freight transportation.