🚢 Port & Marine Equipment
Shipyard Gantry Crane Inspection & Certification in Saudi Arabia
A shipyard gantry crane is a very large rail-mounted gantry, often a goliath crane, that spans a building berth, dry dock or fabrication area and lifts hull blocks, modules and heavy equipment. In Saudi Arabia these cranes serve shipyards and heavy marine fabrication yards on the Gulf and Red Sea coasts, often working in pairs for tandem lifts. With very high rated loads, long spans and wind exposure, they call for a detailed independent structural, mechanical and load test regime.
What we inspect on a shipyard gantry crane
- ✓Main girders, legs, end carriages and trolley frames inspected for weld cracks, buckling, corrosion and fatigue damage, with attention to girder to leg connections
- ✓Hoist wire ropes, rope reeving, equalising sheaves and rope terminations checked for broken wires, diameter loss and drum or sheave groove wear
- ✓Crane rails, rail joints, rail clips and runway beam foundations checked for gauge, level, settlement and wear over the full length of the berth or dock track
- ✓Gantry travel wheels, wheel bogies, equalisers, drives and anti-skew control checked for wear and correct synchronisation across the wide span
- ✓Main and auxiliary hoist and trolley drives, gearboxes and brakes tested for holding torque, wear and heating, including the auxiliary hoist used to turn or tilt hull blocks
- ✓Rated capacity limiter, overload device, anemometer, limit switches and tandem lift controls functionally tested
- ✓Storm anchors, rail clamps and wind restraint systems checked for engagement and condition
- ✓Lifting beams, spreader frames and hook blocks examined for cracks, wear and legible markings, along with cabin, access platforms and emergency stops
Common defects we find
- ✓Fatigue cracks at girder to leg connections and trolley rail supports
- ✓Runway beam settlement or rail misalignment over the long berth track, causing uneven wheel loads and gauge deviation
- ✓Broken wires and worn equalising sheaves in multi-fall rope systems
- ✓Worn hook block sheaves and swivel bearings on high-capacity hook blocks, and seized auxiliary hoist tackle used for turning blocks
- ✓Anti-skew faults and synchronisation errors in tandem or dual-trolley lifts
Risks of operating uncertified
- ✓Block or module dropped during a heavy lift due to rope, hook or structural failure
- ✓Hull block swinging or tipping uncontrollably while being turned, because auxiliary hoist, tackle or brake performance is not as assumed
- ✓Overload or poor load sharing during a tandem lift leading to overstress of structure or machinery
Testing, standards & frequency
Load / performance test
A load test is typically carried out with certified test weights at 100% to 125% of rated capacity depending on the standard and client, often with deflection readings on the girders and checks across the full trolley travel. Tests cover hoist and trolley motion, travel under load, brakes, overload protection and tandem lift settings where used.
Inspection interval
Typically at least annually for a thorough examination, with inspection after relocation, major repair or structural modification and more frequent checks where client or yard rules require.
Standards referenced
- ASME B30.2 (overhead and gantry cranes)
- ISO 9927-1 (cranes, inspections, general)
- ISO 4309 (wire ropes, examination and discard criteria)
- ASME B30.20 (below-the-hook lifting devices)
Part of our Crane Inspection & Certification service. You receive an inspection report, Certificate of Conformity and inspection tag for passing equipment.
Industries using this equipment
FAQs
How is a very large shipyard gantry crane load tested?＋
Large cranes are typically tested with certified test blocks or purpose-built test weights, with deflection and brake performance recorded across the lifting range. Because test weights of this size are significant, planning and rigging are agreed with the yard well in advance.
Are tandem lifts with two gantry cranes covered by the inspection?＋
The inspection covers each crane individually, including limiters and anti-skew controls, and reviews any tandem lift controls. A lift plan for the tandem operation is separate and should be prepared by the yard.