Indian Maritime University

Shore-based handling gear

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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.2.1.1 Container Handling Gear

Purpose of following Shore-based handling gear :

• Portainers
• Straddlers
• Fork lifts
• Transtainer
• Trailers
• Spreaders
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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.2.1.1 Container Handling Gear
Purpose of following Shore-based handling gear :

• Portainers
Portainers are port cranes used for loading, discharging and
shifting containers on ships. They are very large and high and
their boom is capable of loading containers six high on the
hatch cover of a container ship. The Portainers cannot be
slewed and the load can only be taken when the boom is in a
horizontal position. Larger booms are being designed to reach
the outboard containers on ever larger container vessels. They
are powered by external cables mounted on reels on the sides.

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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.2.1.1 Container Handling Gear
Purpose of following Shore-based handling gear :

• Straddlers
Straddlers are self-powered mobile port cranes used
for transporting a container within the port container
yard. The vehicle can straddle a container on a
trailer and lift the container for transport. They are
capable of handling containers stacked 4 high. They
generally move on rubber tire wheels.
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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.2.1.1 Container Handling Gear
Purpose of following Shore-based handling gear :

• Fork Lifts
Fork lifts are diesel or electric powered trucks used for
handling unitized cargo such as containers or palletized cargo.
The two pronged fork is inserted into the fork pockets of a
container or pallet to lift the load for transport and stowage.
Small fork lifts are often used in cargo holds of general cargo
ships to stow the cargo or for bringing same to the square of
the hatch to discharge. Large fork-lifts are capable of lifting a
loaded container.

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 Fork-lift truck
Small size, can be used in ship’s holds.

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 Fork-lift truck
Being used for general cargo handling

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Large (fork-lift) truck

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Large fork-lift truck

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 Large fork-lift truck
Forks are replaced by a spreader

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 Large fork-lift truck
Forks being used to transport steel coils

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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.2.1.1 Container Handling Gear
Purpose of following Shore-based handling gear :

• Boom Cranes
These are mobile self powered vehicles which have a crane boom
instead of a fork-lift arrangement. They are available in various
capacities and are widely in use in port as well as in civil
construction sites. Boom cranes lift loads with the help of wire
slings. Spreaders may also be attached to boom cranes to lift
containers. All stand-alone lifting devices, including fork-lifts, need
counterweights.

Large capacity Boom cranes are employed to lift heavy lifts.

Telescopic support legs transfer the weight from the suspension and
wheels of the mobile unit on which the boom crane is mounted.

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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.2.1.1 Container Handling Gear
Purpose of following Shore-based handling gear :

• Transtainer
Transtainers are a type of gantry crane used for
stacking transit containers in the port prior
transhipment to ships in port or to destinations
inland. They can straddle containers loaded 4 high
and 5 rows across. They generally run on tracks
and are powered by external cable.
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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.2.1.1 Container Handling Gear
Purpose of following Shore-based handling gear :

• Bridge Crane
Bridge cranes are an alternative to the Transtainer
type of gantry crane used for stacking transit
containers in the port. The gantry bar (Bridge)
moves along a fixed frame-work.

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 Bridge crane
The gantry bar acts as a movable bridge on top
of a fixed framework

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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.2.1.1 Container Handling Gear
Purpose of following Shore-based handling gear :

• Trailers
Trailers are chassis on which one or more containers can be
loaded for transport to the portainer for loading on ships or
directly taken to inland destinations by hooking it on to a
trailer truck. Some container terminals with ample area keep
the containers stowed on trailers thus avoiding use of
transtainers, straddlers and fork lifts.

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Trailer and Truck

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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.2.1.1 Container Handling Gear
Purpose of following Shore-based handling gear :

• Spreader (1)
Spreader is essentially a beam used to lift a container. It is used by
a portainer to handle containers on a ship and in the vicinity of a
ship. The length of a spreader can be adjusted to lift a 40 or 45
foot container. A 20 footer would either require a separate spreader
or form part of a multiple beam spreader. A spreader’s four legs fit
into the four corner castings of a container and are then remotely
locked by the driver of the portainer prior lifting the container. A
spreader is thus more efficient than a four legged wire sling. The
wire slings are used only for flat bed platform containers besides
using for general cargo and heavy lifts.

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 Spreader

 
                                                                                                           

                                             

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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.2.1.1 Container Handling Gear
Purpose of following Shore-based handling gear :

• Use of the Spreader (2)

The crane operator extends or retracts the telescopic
arms of the spreader to fit the container length. He
then lowers the spreader bar over the container.

The twist lock in each corner of the spreader will

snap into its corresponding corner castings so that
the container can be lifted.

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 Indian Maritime University
BNA 023 CARGO HANDLING & STOWAGE
Block no. 1 Cargo handling and Care
Unit No. 3 Containerized Cargoes
3.2.1.1 Container Handling Gear
Purpose of following Shore-based handling gear :

• Use of the Spreader (3)

There are spreaders available which can be used to
lift two containers simultaneously. These are used
mostly to discharge empty containers as positioning
two containers simultaneously on a ship takes more
time. These spreaders are not in common use.

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 Spreader
Modern spreader designed to lift
two 40 footer boxes together

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Spreader picking up two 20 footers

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Indian Maritime University
Bon Voyage

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