Ship-to-Shore Crane (STS)

High-throughput quay crane engineered around your design vessel, container mix, outreach, lift height, quay structure and target moves per hour.

Ship-to-shore container cranes operating at a dedicated container terminal.

A ship-to-shore crane, also called an STS crane or container quay crane, transfers ISO containers between a vessel and terminal transport at the berth. Its waterside outreach, lifting height, rail gauge, load capacity and operating speeds are configured for the terminal's design vessel and productivity plan.

Henan Mine Crane supplies project-specific STS crane solutions for new container terminals, berth expansions and equipment replacement projects. The engineering process connects vessel geometry, wharf conditions, container handling mode, environmental loads and control requirements to one coordinated crane specification—helping buyers evaluate reach, throughput, infrastructure compatibility and lifecycle support before ordering.

Quick Specifications

Product Overview

The STS crane is the primary waterside handling machine in a container terminal. A rail-mounted portal structure travels along the quay while a trolley moves the spreader between the ship and landside transfer area. The hoisting, trolley and gantry systems are coordinated to shorten container transfer cycles while maintaining load control and safe clearances.

Unlike an RMG or RTG crane, which stacks and transfers containers in the yard, the STS crane is designed around the ship interface. Vessel beam, container rows across, deck stack height, hatch geometry, air draft, tidal range and fender line all influence the required outreach and lifting geometry.

For this reason, an STS crane should not be selected from capacity alone. A workable specification must also confirm rail gauge, backreach, boom parking envelope, quay wheel loads, terminal vehicle interface, wind conditions, power supply and the buyer's target berth productivity.

Why Choose a Henan Mine Crane STS Solution?

Product Image

Main Equipment Systems

Technical Parameters

STS crane dimensions and performance are finalized after the vessel, berth and operating data have been reviewed. The following schedule identifies the parameters that should appear in the technical agreement.

Source-Confirmed Facts & Buyer-Defined Options

Application Scenarios

How to Select the Right Ship-to-Shore Crane

1. Define the design vessel. Provide the present and future vessel classes, beam, rows across, air draft, deck stack, hatch geometry and working side.
2. Calculate the required reach. Establish the distance from the waterside rail to the farthest container row, including the fender line, vessel offset and operating clearance.
3. Set the lifting envelope. Confirm rail elevation, highest container position, lowest required position, tidal range and clearances above hatch covers and deck obstacles.
4. Confirm load and spreader mode. State the heaviest gross container, container sizes, single-lift requirement and any twin, tandem or hook-handling requirement.
5. Define productivity from the berth plan. Target moves per hour must be evaluated with vessel distribution, operator workflow, terminal vehicles and yard capacity—not motor speed alone.
6. Verify the quay interface. Check rail gauge, rail profile, allowable wheel loads, foundation capacity, storm pins, tie-downs, cable route and maintenance access.
7. Specify the operating environment and control level. Provide wind, temperature, salinity, corrosion class, seismic data, power supply, cabin/remote operation and automation expectations.

Vessel & Berth Data Buyers Must Provide

Outreach, Gauge & Lift Geometry

The principal dimensions must be shown on one buyer-approved interface drawing. Each value should use a clearly stated reference point to avoid discrepancies between vessel, civil and crane drawings.

Throughput & Container Handling Configuration

Required moves per hour should be translated into an agreed operating profile. The review should include loaded and empty containers, hatch-cover activity, trolley travel distance, vessel movement, terminal-vehicle availability and expected non-productive time.

Quay & Infrastructure Interface

Safety & Control

The final protection package is selected through the project risk assessment and applicable standards. Depending on the agreed scope, an STS crane safety and control system may include:

• Rated-load monitoring and overload protection
• Hoist, trolley, gantry and boom travel limits
• Spreader lock/unlock status and interlocks
• Anti-snag and load-path protection functions
• Sway, skew and positioning assistance
• Gantry travel alarms and anti-collision provisions
• Wind-speed monitoring and operating warnings
• Service brakes, rail clamps, storm pins and tie-downs
• Emergency stops and controlled power-loss response
• Cameras, lighting and operator visibility aids
• Fault diagnostics, event records and maintenance access
• Seismic and site-specific protective measures when required

Important: Safety devices, performance guarantees and acceptance criteria should be listed item by item in the technical agreement rather than assumed from a generic product description.

Installation, Commissioning & Maintenance

The quotation should identify which party is responsible for civil work, rails, power supply, unloading, erection equipment, site labor, commissioning utilities, test weights or containers, permits and third-party inspection. Clear division of responsibility helps control terminal shutdown time and commissioning risk.

Information Required for a Quotation

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Container Handling Equipment

Build the terminal equipment plan around the complete ship-to-yard workflow: