Key Design Issues for Large Low Profile Container Cranes

Numerous container terminals have significant height restrictions caused by proximity to airports. Low profile ship-to-shore container cranes (LPCs) are vital to these terminals. LPCs servicing ultra-large container vessels are significantly heavier and more complex than conventional A-frame cranes (AFCs), and present a myriad of new challenges for crane and wharf designers. The most significant difference between LPCs and AFCs is that the LPC boom is a truss that cantilevers over the ship and shuttles horizontally rather than rotating vertically, resulting in much larger wheel loads on the landside and waterside rails. A latest generation boom is 130 m long and has a massive 7 m deep truss. This paper discusses key design issues and solutions for projects in Australia, Florida, and Massachusetts. Issues include crane and component weights, geometry constraints, wheel loads, skidding, and fabrication challenges.