📍 Dhahran, Eastern Province
Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) Crane Inspection & Certification in Dhahran
A rubber-tyred gantry crane is a wheeled container stacking crane that straddles a block of container rows and lifts boxes with a trolley-mounted spreader. RTGs are the main yard cranes at Saudi container terminals and inland logistics hubs, usually powered by an onboard diesel generator or in some fleets by a cable reel or hybrid system. Operating on open yards in heat and dust, they need independent checks of wheel steering, hoisting and protective devices that reflect actual yard conditions. Headquarters of Saudi Aramco, with a high concentration of contractors operating under Aramco General Instructions.
Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) Crane inspection in Dhahran: local context
Dhahran is not a commercial port city, so marine and offshore lifting equipment from contractors based here typically ships through nearby Gulf ports such as King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam. Inspecting cranes, davits and lifting gear ashore first helps avoid surprises at the quayside, so EES inspects this equipment and issues inspection certificates in your yard, with close attention to salt-air corrosion.
Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) Crane inspection scope in Dhahran
- ✓Gantry legs, girder, trolley rails and corner connections checked for weld cracks, corrosion and distortion from container impact
- ✓Hoist wire ropes measured for broken wires, diameter loss and corrosion, with rope tensioners, sheaves and drum grooves checked for wear
- ✓Spreader twist locks, flippers, telescoping beams and container presence sensors tested for correct locked and unlocked indication
- ✓Wheel assemblies, tyres, steering rams and steering sensors inspected for wear, hydraulic leaks and correct operation in straight, crab and corner steering modes
- ✓Gantry drive motors, gearboxes and service and parking brakes tested for holding torque and wear
- ✓Anti-collision and anti-sway systems, stack height sensors, wind speed alarm, overload device and limit switches functionally tested
- ✓Power source reviewed: generator set, fuel and exhaust arrangements, or cable reel and collector for electrified machines
- ✓Operator cab, lighting, audible alarms, emergency stops and access ladders and platforms confirmed in good order
Defects commonly found
- ✓Worn tyres, loose wheel nuts or steering misalignment causing drift in the container lane
- ✓Hydraulic hose leaks and seeping steering cylinders on the wheel bogies
- ✓Sticking spreader flippers and worn guide arms that cause mis-engagement when stacking in tight rows
- ✓Broken wires and damaged rope tensioners on the hoist system
- ✓Disabled or poorly adjusted anti-collision and stack height sensors
Standards
- ✓ISO 9927-1 (cranes, inspections, general)
- ✓ASME B30.2 (overhead and gantry cranes)
- ✓ISO 4309 (wire ropes, examination and discard criteria)
- ✓ASME B30.20 (below-the-hook lifting devices)
Testing
A load test with certified test weights or a calibrated test container is typically carried out at 100% to 125% of rated capacity depending on the standard and client. The test covers hoisting, trolley travel, gantry travel with and without load, braking, spreader function and overload device settings.
Frequency
Typically at least annually for a full thorough examination, with more frequent tyre, rope and spreader checks and pre-mobilisation inspections where terminal or client rules require.
Who we support in Dhahran
Local focus areas: Aramco Dhahran, KFUPM and Techno Valley.
Explore more
Category: Port & Marine Equipment
FAQs
Can you inspect a rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) crane on site in Dhahran?＋
Yes. Our inspectors travel to your yard or project site in Dhahran, including Aramco Dhahran, KFUPM and Techno Valley, so the equipment does not need to be moved.
Which industries in Dhahran request rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) crane inspection?＋
Typically operators and contractors in the Eastern Province from these sectors: Oil, Gas & Petrochemical.
What do inspectors look for on an RTG crane that a daily operator check would miss?＋
Inspectors measure wire rope condition, test brake holding torque, check weld cracking in the gantry structure and verify that overload, anti-collision and stack height sensors trip at their set points. Daily operator checks usually cannot cover these items.
Do rubber-tyred gantry cranes need load testing after a spreader replacement?＋
Yes, a functional load test is normally required after a spreader change or major hoist repair to prove the lifting system and overload device work at the relevant capacity. Many terminal procedures require it before the crane returns to service.