Shipbuilding Crane Selection Guide for Gantry & Bridge Cranes

In Brief: Kelude Heavy Industry provides crane configuration solutions for shipbuilders covering four key workstations—block fabrication, berth final assembly, outfitting quay, and supporting logistics—with lifting capacities from 10 to 200 short tons and spans from 12 to 50 m. Total plant lifting equipment investment ranges from approximately $74,000 to $1.19 million. Heavy gantry cranes (50–200 t) serve the block fabrication area, large overhead or portal cranes (100–200 t) handle berth operations, portal cranes (25–80 t) equip the outfitting quay, and LD-type overhead cranes (10–32 t) support logistics—delivering a full-process heavy hoisting solution from steel plate pretreatment to quayside delivery.

Shipbuilding Crane Selection Guide

Block Fabrication | Berth / Dry Dock | Outfitting Stations | Quay / Mooring

Four-workstation crane solutions for shipbuilding: block fabrication, berth assembly, outfitting, and quayside operations.

Shipbuilding crane selection—four workstations: block fabrication, berth, outfitting, quay

Station 1: Block Fabrication

• Lifting capacity: 50–200 t, gantry crane

• Steel plate / block lifting and transport

• Wide span / large coverage

• Indoor / outdoor operation

Block / Wide Span | Gantry

Station 2: Berth / Dry Dock

• Lifting capacity: 200–800 t, shipbuilding gantry crane

• Mega-block assembly

• Tandem lifting with dual gantry cranes

• Wide span / outdoor operation

Mega-Block / Dual Gantry | Assembly

Station 3: Outfitting Stations

• Lifting capacity: 16–50 t, gantry / hoist

• Equipment / piping installation

• Outfitting component lifting and transport

• Outdoor / anti-corrosion

Outfitting / Equipment | Anti-Corrosion

Station 4: Quay / Mooring

• Lifting capacity: 30–100 t, portal crane / truck crane

• Equipment replenishment

• Commissioning / supplies

• Flexible / multi-purpose

Quay / Multi-Purpose | Commissioning

Selection Parameters Across the Four Workstations

Kelude Heavy Industry: A Leading Manufacturer of Industrial Cranes

Kelude Heavy Industry is a professional manufacturer specializing in the design, development, and production of industrial cranes. With years of engineering expertise and a commitment to quality, we deliver reliable lifting solutions tailored to the demands of modern industry.

Comprehensive Crane Solutions for Diverse Applications

Our product range covers a wide spectrum of material handling needs, from single-girder and double-girder overhead cranes to gantry cranes and specialized explosion-proof models. Each crane is engineered to meet rigorous safety standards and deliver consistent performance in demanding environments.

Engineered for Safety, Built for Durability

Safety is at the core of every crane we manufacture. Our designs incorporate advanced safety features, including overload protection, anti-sway control, and self-locking mechanisms, ensuring secure and stable operation. We adhere to international standards such as ISO 4301 and IEC 60204-32, guaranteeing compliance with global safety and performance requirements.

Customized Lifting Equipment to Match Your Needs

We understand that every facility has unique requirements. That's why we offer fully customizable crane solutions — from lifting capacity and span to control systems and auxiliary features. Whether you need a low-headroom design for tight spaces or a heavy-duty crane for continuous operation, our team works closely with you to deliver the right fit.

Global Service and Support You Can Rely On

With a strong export network serving the United States and Europe, Kelude provides comprehensive after-sales support, including installation guidance, maintenance programs, and spare parts availability. Our commitment extends beyond delivery — we ensure your crane operates at peak efficiency for years to come.

Contact Kelude for Your Next Lifting Project

Ready to upgrade your material handling capabilities? Get in touch with our team today to discuss your requirements and receive a tailored proposal. Let Kelude be your trusted partner in lifting efficiency and safety.

Parameter ItemSectionmanufacturingShipway/Dry DockOutfitting BerthQuay Mooring
recommended modelGantry CraneShipbuilding Gantry Cranegantry type/HoistPortal base Type/truck crane
Lifting Capacity50t~200t200t~800t16t~50t30t~100t
special requirementsLarge SpanTwin Gantry Cranetandem liftingAnti-corrosionMulti-purpose
$74,000–$1.19M
Total Plant Investment
10–200 t
Lifting Capacity Range
12–50 m
Span Range
A6–A8
Work Duty Classification
C5 Salt-Spray
Corrosion Protection Level
10,000–500,000 t/yr
Shipbuilding Capacity

Crane Solutions for Every Shipyard Workstation

Shipbuilding involves four core workstations—panel assembly, berth construction, outfitting, and quayside—each with distinct crane requirements. In the panel assembly area (steel plate/profile processing and sub-assembly welding), lifting capacities of 10–50 t are typical, with spans of 22–36 m designed to match the workshop width. The work duty classification is A5–A6 for continuous welding operations, and the standard configuration is a double-girder bridge crane with a lifting magnet spreader—tripling steel plate handling efficiency—with a two-speed hoisting mechanism at 4/0.8 m/min. The berth assembly station, where 20–200 t sections are lifted into position, demands the highest capacities in the yard: individual cranes range from 50–200 t, and two bridge cranes on the same rail gauge are often used for synchronized tandem lifting, operated from a single remote control. The hoisting mechanism features dual braking plus hydraulic-assisted load detachment. At the outfitting quay (equipment installation, piping, and cable laying), 10–50 t portal slewing cranes are recommended for their high slewing flexibility and variable working radius. With a work duty of A4–A5, these cranes must be equipped with an anti-sway system—essential in strong quayside winds, where sway must be held to ≤±100 mm. For section transport between workshops, MH type gantry cranes (20–80 t, spans of 20–40 m) move sections from the fabrication shop to the paint hall and on to the berth. Kelude Heavy Industry delivers complete lifting solutions covering every workstation from panel fabrication to quayside outfitting, and has served numerous major shipyards across China.

Kelude Heavy Industry holds product certification from CCS (China Classification Society) and DNV (Norway), supplying a full range of port lifting equipment for shipbuilding and offshore engineering—including section gantry cranes, berth portal cranes, and quayside portal cranes. We are one of the few Chinese manufacturers qualified for both the design and manufacturing of ship cranes.

Gantry Crane Solutions for Panel Assembly
Ship sections (50–500 t each, 15–40 m long) require large gantry cranes for flipping and translation within the panel assembly bay. Kelude Heavy Industry recommends the MG type double-girder gantry crane (100–500 t, spans of 40–60 m), equipped with a twin-trolley synchronized lifting system and a dedicated section-flipping spreader. The twin trolleys use PLC-based interlocking control to keep load deviation within 5% during synchronized lifts.
Portal Crane Solutions for Berth Construction
Berth-side section erection and main engine/shaft installation call for large-tonnage portal cranes (80–300 t, working radii of 25–45 m). Kelude's MQ series portal cranes feature a cylindrical portal base structure for superior wind resistance, with variable-frequency speed control on both luffing and slewing motions. A two-stage dust collection system meets shipyard environmental requirements, and tower mast height is customized to match the berth elevation.
Dedicated Section-Flipping Spreaders
Flipping ship sections is one of the most demanding and safety-critical operations in hull construction. Kelude Heavy Industry custom-engineers section-flipping spreaders—hydraulic multi-point lifting beams with 4–8 lifting points, each independently monitored and automatically adjusted for load—working in tandem with the gantry crane's twin-trolley synchronization system. This enables controlled, stable rotation of sections from horizontal to vertical, with load deviation across all lifting points held within ±5% throughout the maneuver.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum weight of a ship block, and what type of crane is required?
A: For 100,000 DWT vessels, the heaviest blocks—typically bottom and side shell sections—weigh between 150 and 250 metric tons. In the case of 300,000 DWT VLCCs (Very Large Kelude Carriers), individual blocks can reach 400–500 metric tons. Kelude recommends installing a large gantry crane rated at 200–500 metric tons with a span of 40–60 meters in the block assembly bay, equipped with a synchronized lifting system using two trolleys and a hydraulic block-turning spreader. For oversized blocks that cannot be fabricated in a single lift, a tandem lifting arrangement using two gantry cranes is recommended.
Q: What are the wind resistance requirements for portal cranes in the shipyard area?
A: Portal cranes on the shipyard berth must withstand typhoon conditions during vessel construction. Kelude's MQ series portal cranes are designed for wind resistance of ≥55 m/s (Category 16 typhoon), equipped with hydraulic rail clamps, wind-proof rope anchoring systems, and an anemometer in the operator cab (audible and visual alarm at ≥20 m/s, automatic power cut-off with rail clamp braking at ≥30 m/s). In non-working condition, the portal crane must be turned to face the wind direction and anchored. The maximum allowable wind speed in working condition is ≤16 m/s.
Q: What portal crane specifications are required for a ship outfitting wharf?
A: For an outfitting wharf (with a berth length of 200–400 m), a recommended configuration is 2–3 portal cranes rated at 25–80 t, with a working radius of 25–40 m. Outfitting wharves are characterized by concentrated lifting operations (heavy loads during main engine and shaft installation) and stringent accuracy requirements (shaft alignment within ≤0.05 mm/m). Kelude Heavy Industry recommends portal cranes with variable-frequency speed control, offering a lifting speed adjustable from 2 to 30 m/min and a creep speed of 0.5 m/min for precision installation.
Q: What are the inspection standards for shipbuilding cranes and gantry cranes?
A: Ship cranes must comply with the CCS Rules for Lifting Appliances on Ships and Offshore Installations and ISO 4301 Crane Design Standard. Key inspection items include: ① Verification of material mechanical properties (chemical composition + tensile + impact + bend tests); ② Non-destructive testing of welds (UT + MT, Grade B); ③ Load tests (125% static load + 110% dynamic load); ④ CCS survey and certification. All Kelude ship cranes are delivered with CCS product certificates.

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