A Popular Science Guide To Ship Crane Usage: From Principles To Practical Operation

What is a ship crane?

A ship crane (ship hoist) is a heavy lifting device installed on the deck of a ship, used for loading and unloading goods, containers or assisting in offshore operations. It is commonly seen on cargo ships, engineering vessels, rescue ships, etc.

Core Structure Analysis

Boom: Retractable or foldable, determining the working radius

Lifting mechanism: Controls the lifting of the hook (steel wire rope + pulley block)

Rotary mechanism: Achieve 360° rotation

Control system: Operation console + hydraulic/electric drive

Five Steps for Safe Operation

Pre-operation inspection

Check whether the steel wire rope is worn

Confirm that the hydraulic oil level is normal

Test the emergency brake button

Environmental assessment

Wind speed ≤ level 6 (to avoid the risk of sway)

The hull is stable (avoiding surge periods)

Basic operation

Turn on the power → Unlock the brake → Lift slowly

Follow the principle of "light load, low speed; heavy load, slow down"

Emergency response

Sudden power failure: Immediately activate the manual release device

Goods shaking: Suspend operation and adjust balance

Work closed for maintenance

Clean the sediment of the track

Lubricated rotary bearing

Common Misunderstandings

1. Overloading and forced lifting → Risk: Cable breakage/hull tilting

2. Rapid rotation → Risk: Inertial impact of goods

 Popular Science Little-Known Facts

Modern ship cranes can be precisely positioned to ±5cm (laser ranging technology)

Some deep-sea operation ship cranes can withstand a load of over 300 tons