Ship & Port Cranes: Compare Types, Avoid Mistakes, Choose Right

Whether you're outfitting a new vessel, upgrading a port terminal, or planning offshore lifting operations, choosing the right crane is a big decision — and a costly one to get wrong. This guide breaks down the most common crane types used at sea, in port, and on offshore rigs — with insider tips, example pricing, and a free tool to help you match your project with the right crane. Ready to lift smarter? Let’s get into it.

🏗️ Start with our Crane Selector Tool or go straight to the comparison table below. You can also click here to request pricing from top suppliers.

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ShipUniverse: Crane Type Comparison Guide
Crane Type	Mount Location	Price	Best For	Highlights
Marine Jib Crane	Ship Deck	Moderate	General cargo on small to mid-sized ships	Simple design, compact footprint, good for fixed lift arcs
Marine Knuckle Boom Crane	Ship Deck	Moderate–High	Confined spaces, precise offshore handling	Articulated boom, space-efficient, safer on rough seas
Marine Telescopic Crane	Ship Deck	High	Variable reach on smaller vessels	Extendable boom, flexible reach, minimal swing radius
Marine Deck Crane	Ship Deck	Moderate	Standard vessel cargo handling	Generic crane class; varies by boom type and vessel size
Derrick Crane	Ship or Barge	Moderate–Low	Bulk material loading, rigging setups	Classic A-frame or mast boom design; great for fixed cargo flow
Floating Crane	Barge or Offshore Support	High	Heavy lifts in ports or at sea	Mounted on barge or vessel, used for salvage, bridge, or offshore work
Offshore Crane	Offshore Platform	High	Loading/unloading offshore vessels and platforms	Heavy-duty, weather-resistant, long reach
Offshore Knuckle Boom Crane	Offshore Platform / Vessel	High	Subsea loads, offshore supply lifts	Articulating boom for safe operation in harsh seas
Offshore Telescopic Crane	Offshore Platform / Vessel	High	Precise lifting with variable reach	Telescoping boom for compact storage and reach flexibility
Offshore Lattice Boom Crane	Offshore Platform	Very High	Heavy offshore lifts (long reach)	Strong structural design; ideal for fixed offshore installations
Heavy Lift Offshore Crane	Offshore Platform / Vessel	Very High	Ultra-heavy lifts (300t+)	Engineered for lifting topside modules, subsea equipment, and more
Ship-to-Shore (STS) Crane	Port Terminal	Very High	Container loading/unloading	Massive gantry crane, common at major container terminals
Bulk Handling Crane	Port / Ship	Moderate–High	Bulk commodities (grain, coal, ore)	Often fitted with grab buckets or clamshell attachments
Rail-Mounted Gantry (RMG) Crane	Port Terminal	High	Container yard operations	Moves on fixed rails; great for stacking containers efficiently
Mobile Harbor Crane (MHC)	Port	Moderate–High	Flexible cargo operations at ports	Wheeled and mobile; handles containers, bulk, or breakbulk
Rubber-Tired Gantry (RTG) Crane	Port Yard	High	Container stacking & movement	Mobile container stacking crane on tires, no rails needed

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