The shipyard industry is a unique environment with an exclusive array of challenges. Cranes are a crucial part of this environment, and there are multiple types specific to the shipyard environment. In this article, we will touch on these specific types of cranes and how they can solve problems in the shipyard.
Shipyards need cranes for many tasks – from heavy-duty lifting operations too delicate material handling – using various crane configurations. The most common configuration is the overhead general crane that lifts a wide range of materials, including beams, machinery, or cargo containers, from one place to another at ground level or from one deck to another onboard vessel. These are the most commonly used cranes, but additional types of cranes are specific to shipyards, which helps them solve unique problems.
There are many types of cranes. General-purpose cranes can be used for all lifting operations, but they cannot be specialized to any particular task. The same is true for special purpose cranes. Special purpose cranes come in two configurations – jib crane and boom crane – and they are often specific to a particular type of work or project. It is best to use the general crane for lifting heavy objects and the special purpose crane for lifting lighter materials with specialized lifting requirements.
Most special purpose cranes can be classified as jib or boom cranes, depending on the type of crane. A jib crane is a smaller crane mounted on top of a flat-topped structure, which can pivot horizontally and vertically concerning the supporting structure. A boom crane is a giant crane mounted on top of a tower with limited ability to pivot horizontally or vertically.
Jib cranes are usually used for handling containers, railcars, and construction materials from ground level to decks of ships. In addition, they are used for moving cargo from ground level onto containerships and from roads onto highways, etc. The smaller jib cranes are used on container ships, while the larger ones are usually used on cruise ships and for handling construction materials.
Booms cranes or “boom lift” or “high reach boom” require a more extended reach and by far the largest lifting capacity of any crane type. They come in three main configurations – overhead boom truck crane, cab high reach boom, and cab low reaches boom. The overhead boom truck crane is similar to an ordinary flat-top truck with a pair of special booms connected to it, which allows the operator to handle large loads of material directly from trucks to containerships and other vessels. This crane is also used to handle significant industrial components such as oil drilling equipment, nuclear reactor, and generators. The cab high reaches boom and cab low reach boom cranes are more of a standard crane with extended reach and lifting capacity. They can be used for handling heavy industrial plant equipment, shipboard cargos, etc.
Scissor lifts are cranes with a horizontal cylinder with lower and upper sections, which lowers and lifts materials from the ground level to the ship. Scissor lifts have a single significant scissor mechanism in the top section, which grabs and lowers materials such as piping, concrete blocks, or barrels. The scissor mechanism in this type of crane is light enough to be carried directly on trucks or railcars when used for short-range operations.
The machine room lift uses overhead lift cylinders to lift heavy machines and equipment directly from processing rooms in ships to upper decks.
Finally, there is a hybrid crane called “truck access boom,” which combines the advantages of both the jib and boom cranes. This crane can load and unload containers and also lift heavy components from trucks directly to ships. The truck access boom crane is used in shipyards for loading equipment, spares, and materials to ships.
There are many different types of cranes in the shipyard industry, but these are some of the most common ones found on ships or in shipyards. The different types of cranes come up with different configurations that best suit specific applications in different industries.
Shipyard cranes are used extensively to handle heavy components, repair large machinery, and lift heavy objects for various projects onboard vessels. They are used to load cargo containers to container ships, transfer cargo containers from trucks or railcars to container ships, or perform any other type of handling job that is required in shipbuilding and ship repair industries.