The purchase of a crane is often one of the most expensive investments a port will make and must be chosen wisely.
“The right below-the-hook solution can also help optimise crane utilisation by reducing rigging complexity, improving lift preparation and enabling a wider variety of cargo to be handled by the same crane.” Casper, Phillips, & Associates (CPA) has served this market for almost 40 years. For CPA, the focus has always been on safety, reliability, and production. “For example, container spreaders are much more reliable and have features that make it easier to land on a container with anti-skew systems and other similar integrated systems,” says Richard L. Phillips, principal engineer.
Another aspect is that under the hook attachments for port equipment have been able to minimise their weight by using advanced design techniques and analysis. “Minimising the weight of the lift system is very important especially for container cranes with large outreaches,” he adds. To improve these metrics, think about attachments as part of a broader ecosystem. “These systems are highly interrelated,” he says. “You would be very surprised what leads to improved operations and safety.” As an example, Phillips cites how comfortable
operator chairs reduce operator fatigue so they can maintain peak focus when controlling the spreader. “Every improvement contributes and you would be surprised how much progress is made even if there were small incremental contributions from interconnected systems along the way,” he adds. He believes that human interface devices (HID) such as joysticks and chairs can make a
big difference. “While not direct upgrades to the spreader, improved HID’s that control the below the hook attachments often lead to improved productivity,” he says. “Chairs on traditional cabin operations can reduce blind spots and dampen travel vibrations. HID’s can improve precision, reduce operator fatigue and keep the operator going at peak production longer.”
Where versatility matters Versatile equipment is a benefit to any port or terminal. However, it is even more prized by small and medium-sized facilities, where a crane must be multi-functional to earn its place. Modulift sees this wherever a port must handle a highly varied cargo profile with a limited number of cranes and lifting accessories. “In these environments, equipment needs to be adaptable rather than dedicated to a single load or application,” says Charlesworth. The modular construction of Modulift
spreader beams enables operators to combine interchangeable struts and end units to achieve different spans. Additional struts can be introduced as operational requirements change, allowing the same core system to be reconfigured for cargo of different lengths, widths and lifting-point arrangements. The MOD range, for example, covers capacities from 6t to 2,000t and spans from 0.4m to 36m. The same modular components can also form part of more complex arrangements. Depending on the load, operators may use a single spreader beam, a cascading rigging arrangement, or a three, four, six or eight-point spreader frame. The CMOD system uses MOD struts and corner
units to create four-point frames, with T-pieces available for six and eight-point configurations. The TriMOD system provides a three-point solution for circular or irregular loads. “This means a port can adapt its below- the-hook equipment to repeatable lifts of differently sized cargo, rather than purchasing and storing separate fixed beams for every possible application,” says Charlesworth. “That versatility is valuable to ports of all sizes, but it can be especially beneficial to small and medium-sized facilities where equipment utilisation, storage space and capital expenditure must be carefully managed.” Greenfield Products sees that large container
terminals often have dedicated equipment assigned to specific cargo types. Smaller and medium-sized ports typically do not have that luxury. “They need a crane to unload containers in the morning, lift steel products in the afternoon, and handle project cargo the next day,” says Calomino. This creates demand for highly adaptable lifting solutions that can be quickly reconfigured to support different loads and operating conditions. “We frequently work with ports seeking equipment that expands the capability of existing cranes rather than purchasing additional dedicated machinery,” he adds. “The ability to switch from one application to another quickly can have a significant impact on throughput and return on investment.”
Customised solutions This means looking at a bespoke solution. “What makes many of these projects noteworthy is that
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