Port container cranes · Ship-to-shore (STS) quay cranes sized by outreach, back reach and lift height, capacity under spreader, hoist and trolley speeds, rail span, and yard RTG and RMG gantries; wind warning and securing rules
A container crane lifts intermodal containers with a spreader: ship-to-shore (STS) quay cranes run on rails along the berth and reach over the vessel to load and unload it, while rubber-tyred (RTG) and rail-mounted (RMG) gantry cranes stack containers in the yard. Ask three things first: which vessels and yard stacks the crane must serve (outreach, lift height, span), what capacity under spreader and speeds the throughput needs, and how the crane meets wind, power and safety requirements at the terminal.
Ship-to-shore (STS) container quay cranes and RTG and RMG container yard gantry cranes for port and rail terminals. Mobile harbour cranes, reach stackers, straddle carriers, empty container handlers, general-purpose gantry cranes and container spreaders sold alone are outside this page except where compared.
01
SANY lists its ship-to-shore container cranes (models STS4101S to STS6501S) with outreach of 40–65 m, back reach of 12–18 m and rated hoist capacity under spreader of 41–65 t; its rubber-tyred container gantry cranes with 40–50 t under spreader, 18–22 m hoisting height and 20–30 m span; and its rail-mounted container gantry cranes with 40–45 t, 15–21 m and 30–40 m. [2]
For the STS5001S, SANY lists 55 m outreach, 15 m back reach, 24.384 m rail span, 36 m hoist height above rail and 15 m below rail, width between legs of at least 18.3 m, portal beam clearance of at least 13 m, overall width of at most 27 m, 50 t under spreader and 60 t under hook beam, and 4 × 12 gantry wheels. [1]
Editorial calculation: 24.384 m is 80 ft; a lift of 36 m above rail plus 15 m below gives 51 m of hook travel. Give the supplier the largest vessel's beam (rows across deck), stack height above deck and depth of hold, and the quay's rail span and level, so outreach and lift heights can be checked. [1]
Give the supplier the design vessel (beam, air draft, rows and tiers on deck), quay length and rail span, rail and quay loading limits, required outreach, back reach and lift heights, capacity under spreader and twin-lift needs, target moves per hour, power supply (shore voltage, cable reel, busbar), wind data and storm conditions, automation or remote operation, and local standards for design and inspection.
02
SANY lists the STS5001S at 75 m/min hoist speed with full load and 150 m/min empty, 240 m/min trolley traverse speed, 45 m/min gantry travel speed and a 6 minute single boom hoist time, and describes energy recycling, a power factor above 0.9 and capacitor compensation. [1]
Editorial calculation: at 240 m/min (4 m/s) the trolley needs about 14 s to traverse the 55 m outreach, and at 75 m/min a full-load hoist through 51 m takes about 41 s, before allowing for acceleration, sway control and spreader landing; ask the supplier for a simulated cycle time and moves per hour for your vessel. [1]
OSHA's marine terminal rule 29 CFR 1917.45 requires each outdoor rail-mounted bridge and portal crane (after 3 October 1983) to have a wind-indicating device that warns the operator at a warning speed and a shutdown speed not exceeding the crane maker's recommendations. At the warning speed gantry travel must stop and the crane be readied for shutdown; at the shutdown speed any part spanning a vessel must be moved clear if safe and the crane secured against travel. It also requires stops or bumpers at track ends and self-centring control levers on container gantry cranes after 3 October 1984. [3]
03
SANY lists ship-to-shore, rubber-tyred and rail-mounted container cranes, Huade container RTG cranes and straddle carriers, and Kino mobile container cranes beside overhead and gantry cranes.
Ask each of them for reference terminals, structural design standard, wind and storm design speeds, drive and power systems, spreader type, automation options, and erection and commissioning support.
04
Liebherr says its ship-to-shore cranes are custom designed with a range of outreaches from Panamax size to Megamax, with safe working loads from 40 to 120 t in single, twin and tandem lift. Its class table pairs outreach with containers across deck and lift height: Panamax up to 38 m, up to 13 containers and 30 m; Post Panamax up to 45 m, up to 16 and 35 m; Super Post Panamax up to 53 m, up to 19 and 40 m; Megamax above 53 m, 20 or more and 40 m or more. All four STS classes list 45 m/min travel speed, and wheel loads are based on 8 wheels per corner. [4]
Editorial calculation: at the top Megamax trolley speed of 240 m/min (4 m/s) a trolley crosses a 53 m outreach in about 13 s, and at the lowest Panamax trolley speed of 150 m/min (2.5 m/s) a 38 m outreach in about 15 s, before acceleration and sway control. [4] Editorial note: give each bidder the rows across deck of your widest vessel, the quay's allowable wheel load, and whether twin or tandem lift is needed, as these set the class.
| Liebherr class | Outreach; containers across deck; lift height | Hoist / trolley speed; wheel load |
|---|---|---|
| Panamax | Up to 38 m; up to 13; 30 m [4] | 50/125 m/min; 150–180 m/min; 30–45 t/m |
| Post Panamax | Up to 45 m; up to 16; 35 m [4] | 60/150 m/min; 180–210 m/min; 40–55 t/m |
| Super Post Panamax | Up to 53 m; up to 19; 40 m [4] | 70–175 m/min; 210–240 m/min; 55–65 t/m |
| Megamax | Above 53 m; 20 or more; 40 m or more [4] | 90–180 m/min; 210–240 m/min; 65+ t/m |
05
The first five rows follow SANY's STS5001S parameters; the wind-device row and the track-end stops in the gantry row come from OSHA 1917.45.
| System | Role | Fix in the order |
|---|---|---|
| Boom and girder | Outreach and back reach. [1] | Lengths; boom hoist time. |
| Trolley | Traverse over ship and quay. [1] | Speed; sway control. |
| Hoist and spreader | Lift containers. [1] | Capacity; speeds; heights. |
| Portal and gantry travel | Move along quay. [1] [3] | Span; wheels; stops. |
| Power and drives | Supply and energy recovery. [1] | Voltage; feed. |
| Wind device and securing | Warn and secure. [3] | Speeds; anchors. |
06
Single values are the STS5001S's and ranges are SANY's STS line; power, temperature, wind speed, supply and weight have no published figure here, so ask for them against your quay's wheel-load limit.
| Field | What it means and published values | Ask the supplier for |
|---|---|---|
| Lifting Capacity (t) | E.g. 50 t under spreader; 60 t under hook beam. [1] | Single and twin lift. |
| Outreach (m) | E.g. 40–65 m STS range. [2] | Value for design vessel. |
| Backreach (m) | E.g. 12–18 m. [2] | Value. |
| Lifting Height (m) | E.g. 36 m above, 15 m below rail. [1] | Above and below rail. |
| Hoisting Speed (m/min) | E.g. 75 full / 150 empty. [1] | Speeds. |
| Trolley Speed (m/min) | E.g. 240. [1] | Speed; acceleration. |
| Gantry Travel Speed (m/min) | E.g. 45. [1] | Speed. |
| Power Consumption (kW) | Drives; energy recovery. [1] | Installed and average. |
| Operating Temperature (°C) | Terminal climate. | Range. |
| Wind Speed (Operating) (m/s) | Warning and shutdown speeds. [3] | Design values. |
| Power Supply | Shore supply. | Voltage; feed type. |
| Rail Gauge (m) | E.g. 24.384 m span. [1] | Span; rail type. |
| Total Weight (t) | Quay loading. | Weight; wheel loads. |
07
Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.
Vessel: [beam; rows; tiers; air draft] Quay: [rail span; length; wheel load limit] Crane: [outreach; back reach; lift heights] Capacity: [under spreader; twin lift] Throughput: [moves per hour] Power: [shore supply; feed] Wind: [design, warning, shutdown speeds] Standards: [design; inspection]
3 companies list this product among what they make. Company figures are quoted from each company's own website; every card states where the relationship came from.
Lists ship-to-shore, rubber-tyred and rail-mounted container cranes among port machinery.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists container RTG cranes and straddle carriers with boat hoists.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists mobile container cranes with overhead and gantry cranes.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Explore company information and manufacturing capabilities, then discuss the scope of your project with a relevant supplier.
SANY lists STS models from 40 m to 65 m outreach, with 41–65 t under spreader. [2]
SANY's STS5001S lists 75 m/min hoist with full load, 150 m/min empty and 240 m/min trolley speed. [1]
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1917.45, gantry travel stops at the warning speed; at shutdown speed the crane is moved clear of the vessel if safe and secured against travel. [3]
Liebherr's class table lists Panamax cranes up to 38 m outreach for up to 13 containers across deck, rising to above 53 m for Megamax cranes serving 20 or more. [4]
Sources checked 2026-10-11. SANY and Liebherr describe their own cranes; OSHA's marine terminal rule is a US federal requirement.
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