English Maritime Terminology on Ship and Cargo Handling

Cargo Handling Crane Types

A number of different types of cranes are found on merchant ships, each designed to handle specific cargo and operational requirements :

Manifold Cranes

• Primarily used on tankers to handle hoses and pipes during loading and discharging operations.
• Designed to withstand the harsh marine environment and the weight of heavy hoses.
• Often hydraulically powered, offering precise control over hose movements.

Slewing Cranes

• Highly versatile cranes capable of rotating 360 degrees.
• Used for a wide range of cargo handling tasks, including general cargo, containers, and bulk materials.
• Commonly found on multipurpose vessels and general cargo ships.
• Can be hydraulically or electrically powered.

Deck Cranes

• Smaller cranes mounted on the ship's deck.
• Used for handling smaller loads, such as provisions, spare parts, and smaller pieces of cargo.
• Often hydraulically powered and can be manually operated.
• Essential for day-to-day operations on board the ship.

Bulk Cranes

• Specialized cranes designed to handle bulk cargo, such as grains, coal, and ore.
• Typically large and powerful, capable of lifting heavy loads at high speeds.
• Often equipped with grabbers or clamshell buckets to efficiently load and unload bulk materials.
• Common on bulk carriers.

Heavy Lift Cranes

• Extremely powerful cranes capable of lifting heavy and oversized cargo.
• Used for specialized tasks, such as transporting heavy machinery, construction equipment, and large project cargo.
• Often installed on specialized heavy lift vessels or can be temporarily installed on other ships.
• Require advanced engineering and precise operation.

Gantry Cranes

• Large, overhead cranes that run on tracks along the quayside or on the ship's deck.
• Primarily used in container terminals to efficiently load and unload containers onto and from ships.
• Can be shore-based or ship-mounted.
• Offer high lifting capacities and rapid transfer rates.

 

Portal Cranes

• Similar to gantry cranes but with a single, rigid frame.
• Often used in shipyards for lifting heavy components, such as engine blocks and propeller shafts.
• Can also be used in container terminals, especially in smaller ports.

 

Mobile Harbor Cranes

• Highly mobile cranes mounted on rubber tires or crawler tracks.
• Used for a variety of tasks, including container handling, general cargo, and bulk cargo.
• Offer flexibility and can be easily moved around the port area.

 

Floating Cranes

• Large cranes mounted on barges or ships.
• Used for heavy lift operations, such as installing offshore platforms and lifting large sections of ships.
• Highly versatile and can be deployed in various water depths.

 

Ship-to-Shore Cranes (STS)

• Powerful cranes located on the shore, used to transfer containers between the ship and the quayside.
• Essential for efficient container handling in large ports.
• Offer high lifting capacities and rapid transfer rates.