respective free ends thereof the spreader 39 may be selectively utilized to pick up a pre slug pallet designated 51 fig7 or to pick up a cargo cage generally designated 53 fig1 and 16 mounted under the opposite ends of the spreader are respective frusto pyramidally shaped sockets 57 which open downwardly and are configured for selective engagement over respective upstanding complimentarily shaped bosses 59 mounted on the opposite ends of the cargo cage referring to fig2 and 24 latching hooks 63 and 65 are mounted pivotably to the spreader above the respective sockets 57 and are configured to selectively engage the respective bosses 59 as shown in fig2 to latch the spreader to the cargo cage the interior of the frame 41 defines an open storage compartment for the cables 45 and mounted therein are storage brackets 50 to which the hook devices 47 on the free ends of the cables 45 may be selectively hooked to store such cables as the spreader is attached to the cargo cage 53 thus the cables 45 may be deployed as shown in fig1 for connection with the preslung pallet 51 as shown in fig7 or selectively stored as shown in fig3 when stored as shown in fig3 the spreader may be conveniently lowered onto the cargo cage as shown in fig2 and 23 to latchingly engage the hooks 63 and 65 shown in fig3 to transport equipment and cargo aboard a containerized cargo vessel as will be described hereinafter referring to the accompanied drawings in detail the horizontal spreader frame 41 is conveniently constructed with a pair of parallel channel beams 71 and 73 connected together by cross beams 75 and 77 fig1 ears 79 are mounted on opposite ends of the cross beams.