Ship Shore Harbour Container Lifting Crane

 

Key Features of STS Cranes

1. Structural Components

Boom (Fixed or Telescopic) – Extends over the ship's deck.

Luffing Boom (adjustable angle for clearance).

Fixed Boom (more common in modern cranes).

Gantry Legs – Supports the crane on rails along the quay.

Trolley & Hoist System – Moves horizontally along the boom with a spreader (for 20', 40', 45', or twin-lift containers).

Cabin (Operator Control Room) – High-tech controls for precise movements.

2. Mobility & Operation

Rails along the Quay – STS cranes move on tracks parallel to the dock.

Outreach & Backreach:

Outreach (over the ship, up to 24+ rows of containers).

Backreach (over the dock, to place containers on trucks/AGVs).

Lifting Capacity: Typically 40–100+ tons (some handle ultra-large ships with 120+ tons).

3. Power & Automation

Electric-powered (most modern STS cranes).

Automated STS Cranes (some ports use semi/full automation for efficiency).

Regenerative Braking (recovers energy when lowering containers).

 

Comparison with Other Cranes

Feature	STS Crane	RTG Crane	RMG Crane
Location	Ship-to-shore	Yard stacking	Rail yard
Mobility	Rail-mounted	Rubber tires	Rail-mounted
Lifting Cap.	40–100+ tons	30–50 tons	30–50 tons
Automation	High (in modern ports)	Medium	High

 

Lifting Capacity: 30 metric tons (30,000 kg)
Span: 10m–35m (customizable)
Lifting Height: 6m–20m (adjustable)
Hoist Type: Double-girder with electric wire rope hoist (QD-type)
Travel System: Motorized (rail-guided or rubber-tired)
Wheel Type: Steel wheels (for rails) / Pneumatic tires (floor use)
Control System: Cabin-operated or remote control
Power Supply: 380V/50Hz (3-phase)
Structural Steel: Q345B (high-strength) with corrosion-resistant coating

1. Structural Components

A. Boom (Fixed or Luffing)

Fixed Boom: Horizontal structure extending over the vessel (most common in modern cranes).

Luffing Boom: Adjustable-angle boom (for ports with airspace restrictions).

Telescopic Boom: Extendable for greater reach (less common).

B. Gantry Frame & Legs

Portal Legs: Steel supports on rails, spanning the quay width.

Cross Beams: Connect legs for stability.

Apex Frame: Top structure supporting the boom and trolley.

C. Trolley & Hoist System

Trolley: Moves along the boom on rails, carrying the spreader.

Hoist Mechanism: Wire ropes/drums for lifting containers (dual-hoist for heavy loads).

Spreader: Twist-lock device (20', 40', 45', or twin-lift capable).

D. Cabin (Operator Station)

Glass-enclosed control room with joysticks, screens, and safety systems.

Some cranes feature remote-control or autonomous operation.

 

2. Mobility & Drive Systems

A. Rail System

Quay Rails: Heavy-duty tracks parallel to the dock for crane movement.

Drive Wheels: Electric motors with anti-slip mechanisms.

Buffers & Brakes: Prevent collisions at rail ends.

 

B. Outreach & Backreach

Outreach: Distance over the ship (up to 70m+ for mega-ships).

Backreach: Distance over the land (for trucks/AGVs).

C. Anchoring & Anti-Tip Systems

Storm Brakes: Lock the crane during high winds.

Rail Clamps: Secure the crane when idle.

3. Power & Electrical Systems

A. Power Supply

High-Voltage Cable Reel: Delivers electricity from the dock.

Backup Diesel Generator: For emergencies (rare in modern cranes).

B. Motors & Drives

Hoist Motors: High-torque AC/DC motors.

Trolley/Traverse Motors: For horizontal movement.

Gantry Motors: Drive wheels for rail movement.

C. Energy Recovery

Regenerative Braking: Converts lowering energy into electricity.

4. Control & Automation

A. PLC & Sensors

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC): Manages crane operations.

Load Cells: Monitor container weight.

Anti-Sway System: Reduces pendulum motion.

.

B. Automation Features

Auto Landing: Precisely places containers on AGVs/trucks.

OCR (Optical Character Recognition): Scans container IDs.

AI Path Planning: Optimizes trolley/hoist movements.

C. Safety Systems

Collision Avoidance: Laser scanners/cameras detect obstacles.

Wind Speed Sensors: Trigger shutdowns at unsafe speeds.

Emergency Stop (E-Stop): Instantly halts operations.

5. Auxiliary Components

A. Lighting & Alarms

LED Work Lights: Illuminate the ship's deck.

Audible Alarms: Warn personnel during movement.

B. Lubrication Systems

Automatic Greasing: For wires, rails, and gears.

C. Maintenance Platforms

Access Walkways: For servicing hoist/trolley systems.

SKETCH

Main technical

 

High Productivity

Capable of handling 25-50+ container moves per hour

Modern cranes achieve up to 60 moves/hour in optimal conditions

Dual-hoist systems enable simultaneous loading/unloading

Massive Lifting Capacity

Standard capacity: 40-65 tons

Mega cranes handle up to 120 tons (for ultra-large vessels)

Can lift two 20' containers simultaneously (twin-lift capability)

Exceptional Reach

Outreach up to 72 meters (24+ container rows)

Backreach 25-30 meters for landside operations

Accommodates world's largest container ships (24,000+ TEU vessels)

Precision Handling

Advanced anti-sway systems for smooth operation

Auto-landing systems (±5mm accuracy)

Load monitoring with real-time feedback

Operational Flexibility

Adjustable luffing booms for height restrictions

Telescopic spreaders for mixed container sizes

Quick-change attachments for special cargo

Energy Efficiency

Regenerative braking recovers 30-40% of energy

Electric-powered models produce zero emissions

Smart power management reduces peak loads

Advanced Automation

OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for container tracking

AI-powered motion planning optimizes cycles

Remote operation capabilities for 24/7 work

Safety Features

Collision avoidance systems (laser/LiDAR)

Wind speed monitoring (auto shutdown at 55+ km/h)

Emergency stop systems with redundancy

 

Commercial Port Operations

Loading/unloading container ships of all sizes

Transshipment hubs (e.g., Singapore, Rotterdam)

Feeder vessel operations in regional ports

Mega-Terminal Operations

Handling Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs)

Serving alliance hub ports with high-volume traffic

Inter-terminal transfers in port complexes

Specialized Cargo Handling

Heavy-lift projects (project cargo)

Reefer container operations

Dangerous goods handling

Automated Terminal Integration

Working with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)

Coordinating with automated yard cranes (ASC)

Interface with Terminal Operating Systems (TOS)

Military/Strategic Ports

Rapid deployment of military containerized cargo

Disaster relief operations

Strategic reserve handling

Intermodal Connections

Direct transfer to rail-mounted gantry cranes

Loading barge operations for river transport

Feeding truck loading zones

 

 

1. Design and Planning

Demand Analysis: According to customer needs and usage scenarios, a detailed demand analysis is carried out to determine the specifications, load, span, lifting height, etc. of the crane.

Engineering Design: Engineers use CAD and other design software to carry out detailed design, including structural, mechanical, electrical and other aspects to ensure that the design meets relevant standards and specifications.

2. Material Procurement

Material Selection: Select appropriate steel, motors, control systems and other components according to design requirements.

Supplier Screening: Screen suppliers of materials and components to ensure the quality and reliability of materials.

3. Processing and Manufacturing

Cutting and Forming: Cut, weld, bend and other processes on steel to form main beams, end beams and other structural components.

Machining: Precision machining of key components, such as turning, milling, drilling, etc., to ensure that the size and accuracy meet the design requirements.

Surface Treatment: Spray, galvanize or rust-proof metal parts to enhance corrosion resistance and aesthetics.

4. Assembly

Component Assembly: Assemble the main beam, end beam, trolley, lifting mechanism and other components to form a complete crane structure.

Installation of electrical system: Install electrical equipment such as motors, control cabinets, sensors, limit switches, etc. to ensure the normal operation of the electrical system.

5. Debugging and testing

Preliminary debugging: Carry out preliminary debugging of the crane to check the coordination and operation of each component.

Load test: Carry out load test to ensure the safety and stability of the crane under rated load, and test the functions of safety devices such as overload protection and limit switches.

Performance test: Test the performance indicators of the crane such as lifting speed, running speed, braking effect, etc. to ensure that they meet the design requirements.

6. Quality inspection

Quality inspection: Carry out a comprehensive quality inspection of the crane, including appearance, size, performance, etc., to ensure compliance with relevant standards.

Safety assessment: Carry out safety assessment to ensure the normal operation of all safety devices and systems.

7. Delivery and installation

Packaging and transportation: Pack qualified cranes and prepare them for transportation to the customer site.

On-site installation: Carry out on-site installation according to customer requirements, including basic production and equipment debugging.

Training and handover: Train operators to ensure that they master the operation methods and safety precautions of the equipment and complete the handover work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material Inspection

Quality Inspection: Strict quality inspection is carried out on the purchased raw materials to ensure that they meet the design requirements and national standards.

Material Storage: Qualified materials are stored according to classification to prevent corrosion or damage.

Cutting and Forming

Steel Cutting: Use plasma cutting, laser cutting or flame cutting and other technologies to cut the steel according to the size of the design drawing.

Forming Processing: Form the steel plate through bending, rolling, welding and other processes to manufacture the main beam, end beam and other structural parts.

Welding

Component Welding: The cut and formed steel parts are welded into the main structures such as the main beam, end beam and trolley. The welding process needs to be strictly controlled to ensure the structural strength and welding quality.

Weld Inspection: Use non-destructive testing technology (such as ultrasonic testing, radiographic testing) to inspect the welds to ensure that there are no cracks or other defects.

Machining

Precision Machining: Precision machining is performed on the key components of the crane, such as wheel sets, bearing seats, pulleys, etc., to ensure their dimensional accuracy and surface quality.

Assembly of the whole machine

General assembly: On the basis of pre-assembly, the overall assembly of the crane is carried out, including the final installation of the main beam, end beam, lifting mechanism, walking mechanism, etc.

Commissioning and testing

Under dynamic conditions, the operating performance of the crane is tested, including the testing of lifting, walking, steering and other functions. The overall size of the assembled bridge crane is checked to ensure that all dimensions meet the design requirements.

Spraying and anti-corrosion treatment

Surface treatment Rust removal: Rust removal on the surface of the crane, common methods include sandblasting, pickling, etc. Primer spraying: Spray anti-corrosion primer on the treated surface to prevent metal oxidation and corrosion. Topcoat spraying Color spraying: Spray topcoat according to customer requirements or industry standards to give the crane a protective and decorative effect. Marking: After spraying, mark the crane's identification information in accordance with the specifications, such as model, rated load, etc.

Factory and installation

Packaging and transportation

Packaging protection: Protectively package the key components of the crane to prevent damage during transportation. Transportation arrangement: According to the equipment size and transportation conditions, select a suitable transportation method to transport the crane to the customer's site.

Acceptance and delivery

Customer acceptance

On-site acceptance: The customer conducts on-site acceptance of the crane according to the contract requirements and technical specifications to check the performance and quality of the equipment.

Problem rectification: If any problems are found, the manufacturer needs to rectify them in time to ensure that the equipment fully meets the customer's requirements. Delivery and use Operation training: The manufacturer usually trains the customer's operators to ensure that they can operate the crane correctly and safely.

Hot Tags: ship shore harbour container lifting crane, China ship shore harbour container lifting crane manufacturers, suppliers, factory