A crane on a ship is usually called a ship’s crane, a cargo crane or a deck crane, and each one also has a name that describes its job: provision crane, hose-handling crane, engine-room crane, davit, gantry crane or derrick. The main ship crane types differ far more in size and operating duty than in name: a heavy-lift cargo crane on an ocean-going vessel can be rated above 100 tonnes, while the stores crane on the same vessel may only be expected to handle a single pallet of provisions.
This guide gives a ship crane name list, explaining what each type does and on which vessels it is typically installed, and then identifies where our hydraulic knuckle boom and telescopic marine cranes are suitable and where they are not. We manufacture marine cranes from 0.8 t to 25 t rated capacity; we do not manufacture the large cargo cranes of bulk carriers, ship-to-shore gantry cranes or offshore cranes. Achord Chan, Product Operations Director at BOB-LIFT, compiled this guide from published maritime rules and from the technical drawings of our current marine cranes.
For cranes beyond the ship, from tower and crawler cranes to spider and forklift jib cranes, see our guide to the types of cranes.
Key takeaways
- “Ship’s crane” or “cargo crane” is the general name; most ships also carry smaller cranes named after their job, such as stores, hose-handling and engine-room cranes.
- Large cargo cranes and derricks serve the holds of cargo ships. Gantry cranes mostly stand on the quay, and offshore cranes follow their own rules.
- Hydraulic knuckle boom and telescopic cranes cover stores, deck service, workboats, barges and small cargo vessels; ours run from 0.8 t to 25 t.
- Since 1 January 2026, SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13 covers lifting appliances on board SOLAS ships, so check what your flag state requires before you buy.
- Choose a ship crane by the load at your outreach over the side, then check stowage, deck strength, stability and power.
What is a crane on a ship called?
A ship crane (also called a shipboard crane or ship’s crane) is a crane fixed to a vessel to lift cargo, stores, hoses, equipment, boats or people on board, ashore or to another vessel. Crews and shipyards rarely use the general term on its own; they identify each crane by its operational function, because a single vessel can carry several cranes of very different capacities.
Singapore’s maritime authority gives a useful list. Its circular on the SOLAS rule for lifting appliances names equipment used for cargo, for hatch covers, as engine-room cranes, as stores cranes, as hose-handling cranes, for launching tender boats and for handling personnel [1]. Those categories, together with the traditional derrick and the davit, cover most of the lifting equipment you will encounter on a commercial vessel.
Ship crane name list: types of cranes on ships
The table lists the common types of cranes on ships. The capacity column gives a size class, not a rule; each crane’s real rating is on its nameplate and certificate.
| Name | What it does | Where you find it | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo crane (ship’s crane) | Loads and discharges cargo between the holds and the quay | Geared bulk carriers, general cargo and multipurpose ships | Tens of tonnes; heavy-lift versions over 100 t |
| Derrick | A boom worked by wires and winches lifts cargo over the hatch | Older cargo ships and some special vessels | Light to heavy, depending on rig |
| Provision or stores crane | Lifts food, spares and supplies from the quay or a supply boat | Most ocean-going ships | Light, often a pallet or a net |
| Hose-handling crane | Holds cargo hoses during loading and discharge | Tankers and gas carriers | Light to medium |
| Engine-room crane | Lifts engine parts during maintenance | Inside the engine room | Light, overhead type |
| Gantry crane | Travels on rails and lifts containers or cargo vertically | Mostly on the quay; a few ships carry one | Heavy |
| Knuckle boom marine crane | Folding hydraulic boom for cargo, stores and deck work | Workboats, supply boats, barges, small cargo ships | 0.8 t to 25 t in our range |
| Telescopic marine crane | Straight extending boom for long reach to the quay | Small cargo vessels, landing craft, barges | About 2 t to 20 t in our range |
| Davit | Lowers and recovers lifeboats, rescue boats or tenders | Passenger ships, cargo ships, yachts | Sized to the boat |
| Offshore crane | Transfers loads to supply vessels in open sea | Platforms and offshore vessels | Medium to very heavy |
Cargo cranes on ships
A cargo crane is the large crane between the hatches of a geared cargo ship. It allows the vessel to load and discharge without shore cranes, which is particularly valuable in ports with limited cargo-handling equipment. On bulk carriers it usually operates with a grab, whereas on general cargo vessels it operates with slings, nets or a spreader; these cranes are normally electro-hydraulic, mounted on tall pedestals and designed together with the vessel itself.
Military sealift ships show the top of the scale. The US Navy’s large roll-on/roll-off ships carry two 110-ton single-pedestal twin cranes, so they can work where shoreside infrastructure is limited [2]. Its auxiliary crane ships are converted container ships with three twin-boom pedestal cranes. These cranes lift containers from the ship or from vessels alongside onto a pier or lighter [3].
Regardless of its capacity, a cargo crane operates under the same fundamental regulatory principles. US longshoring rules say the safe working load in the cargo gear certificate or marked on the boom shall not be exceeded [4]. They also say a crane with a visible or known defect affecting safe operation shall not be used [5].
Derricks: the older ship crane
A derrick is a hinged boom at the foot of a mast, raised and slewed by wires and winches. For most of the twentieth century it was the standard cargo-handling gear on general cargo vessels, and two derricks could operate together to transfer a load from the hold to the quay. Most newly built cargo vessels use slewing cranes instead, because a single operator can control them and the rigging requires considerably less preparation. You still meet derricks on older ships and some special vessels, and US rules still cover wire rope used to guy them [4].
Provision, hose-handling and engine-room cranes
Every ocean-going vessel needs to lift supplies, including vessels that never handle their own cargo. A provision crane (or stores crane) stands near the accommodation or the stores hatch. It lifts provisions, spare parts and drums from the quay or from a supply boat, and it is usually a compact hydraulic crane with a slender folding or telescopic boom, because deck space near the accommodation is limited.
A hose-handling crane sits by the manifold of a tanker or gas carrier and holds the heavy cargo hoses while they are connected. An engine-room crane is usually an overhead crane on rails above the main engine, used for maintenance. All three appear by name in the Singapore circular, which defines a lifting appliance as load-handling equipment with a safe working load of 1,000 kg or above, installed on board [1].
Gantry cranes and ship-to-shore cranes
When people picture a crane loading a container ship, they usually picture a ship-to-shore gantry crane. That crane belongs to the port rather than the vessel: it travels on rails along the quay and reaches across the hatches. A small number of specialised vessels carry their own gantry crane on rails along the hatch coamings, but port cranes and onboard gantries are large engineered systems that we do not manufacture.
Knuckle boom and telescopic marine cranes
On small and mid-size vessels, the ship crane is usually a hydraulic marine crane on a steel pedestal. A knuckle boom folds at a joint and stows in a small space, so it suits short decks and lifts down into a hold. A telescopic boom extends in a straight line and reaches further for its weight, which suits lifts from a long open deck to the quay. Our deck crane guide compares the two in detail.
These cranes perform duties that larger vessels distribute among separate cranes; on a workboat or supply boat, a single crane typically handles cargo, provisions, tools and small boats. On a barge it is often the only lifting gear, so our barge crane guide covers heel and stand-alone power. On a fishing boat under 10 m, a small knuckle boom handles nets and catch, which our boat crane guide covers.
Davits, boat-launch and personnel cranes
A davit lowers and recovers a lifeboat, rescue boat or tender. Davits for lifeboats and rescue boats are life-saving appliances under the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code, a separate set of rules. The Singapore circular, for example, excludes launching appliances certified under the LSA Code from the general lifting-appliance rule [1]. A crane used to launch a work tender or to lift personnel is a different case again, because lifting people requires equipment specifically designed for that purpose and more frequent examination.
Our marine cranes are not life-saving appliances and are not designed to lift people. For a tender or a small workboat, ask us about the load at your required reach, and confirm with your flag administration which regulations apply.
For portable socket davits, boat davits and how to size one for load and outreach, read our davit crane guide.
Offshore cranes
An offshore crane is built to transfer loads between a platform or offshore vessel and a supply boat in open sea. It must cope with waves moving the supply vessel beneath the hook, so it is designed and certified to dedicated offshore crane standards, frequently with active heave compensation. The Singapore circular also leaves out the cranes of offshore construction ships, which follow standards accepted by the flag state [1]. We do not build offshore cranes.
Where BOB-LIFT marine cranes fit
Our hydraulic marine cranes cover the light and middle part of the name list: provision and stores cranes, deck service cranes, and cargo cranes for workboats, landing craft, barges and small cargo vessels. The table shows six models from our current range. Every figure is read from the model’s technical drawing, and the load at full outreach is the last point on its load chart.
| Typical use on a ship | Model (rated) | Boom | Load at full outreach | Crane weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stores on yachts and small workboats | SQ08ZA3TJ+1 (800 kg) | Knuckle | 220 kg at 4.151 m | 220 kg |
| Stores crane, workboat cargo | SQ5ZA3TJ (5 t) | Knuckle | 1,100 kg at 8.05 m | 2,120 kg |
| Provision crane, supply boats, landing craft | SQ10ZA6TJ (10 t) | Knuckle | 1,150 kg at 14.68 m | 2,920 kg |
| Small cargo vessels, deck to quay | SQ12SA4T (12 t) | Telescopic | 1,200 kg at 16.2 m | 4,050 kg |
| Small cargo vessels, long reach | SQ20SA5T (20 t) | Telescopic | 1,500 kg at 22.0 m | 6,950 kg |
| Barges and heavier deck cargo | SQZ500T (25 t) | Knuckle | 2,000 kg at 18.0 m | 6,474 kg |
Rated capacity applies only close to the column: our 20 t telescopic crane lifts 20,000 kg at 2.5 m, but only 1,500 kg at its full 22.0 m. Therefore, read each load chart at the outreach your vessel actually requires; our pedestal crane guide then explains how the chosen crane is mounted on deck. The full lists are on our knuckle boom marine crane and telescopic boom marine crane pages, and all models are in the marine crane range.
The cover photo comes from a customer in New Zealand. It shows one of our SQ20SA5T telescopic cranes with its boom fully raised on the deck of a red ship at the quay. Each section of that boom adds reach, and the drawing shows the load falling as it extends: 12,000 kg at 6.3 m, 3,500 kg at 14.3 m and 1,500 kg at 22.0 m with the boom level.
Rules that apply to cranes on ships
A crane on a vessel falls under maritime regulations as well as general lifting legislation, and three considerations matter when you plan an installation.
- SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13. This rule for lifting appliances and anchor-handling winches entered into force on 1 January 2026 [1]. Flag states decide some details, such as how far it applies to appliances below 1,000 kg safe working load, so ask your flag state or classification society what your ship needs.
- Stability. UK guidance says a suitably qualified person should check the vessel’s stability before a crane is installed. It calls this especially important on workboats and other small vessels, and recommends asking the crane manufacturer for advice [6].
- Examination and weather. The same guidance sets a thorough examination at least every 12 months, or every 6 months for equipment that lifts people. It also says lifting should stop before weather makes it dangerous [6].
We supply the crane weight, foundation loads and load charts so that your shipyard and surveyor can complete these verifications; we do not claim classification society approval for our cranes. If your ship needs a class-approved crane, tell us at the start and discuss it with your classification society.
How to choose a crane for a ship
- Name the job. Cargo, stores, hoses, a tender or deck service: the job decides the crane type from the list above.
- List the loads. Write down the heaviest load and the most frequent one, with slings, nets or a frame.
- Measure the outreach. On the deck plan, measure from the slewing centre to each pick-up and landing point over the side.
- Read the load chart. Choose a crane that lifts that load at that outreach, with a margin.
- Check the ship. Give the crane weight and foundation loads to your naval architect for deck strength and stability, plan stowage at sea, and confirm the hydraulic power supply.
Example scenario (an illustration, not a customer record): a coastal cargo ship needs a provision crane that lands 800 kg pallets on deck from the quay, about 10 m from the pedestal. The SQ10ZA6TJ load chart shows 1,800 kg at 10.56 m, which covers the pallet with a clear margin. At its full 14.68 m it still lifts 1,150 kg, enough to reach a supply boat alongside. The yard would then check the 2,920 kg crane weight and foundation loads on the deck.
For the parts that make up a marine crane, from slewing ring to winch, see our article on the structure of marine cranes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a crane on a ship called?
The general name is a ship’s crane, cargo crane or deck crane. Crews usually name it by its job: provision or stores crane, hose-handling crane, engine-room crane, davit or derrick. A crane that loads ships from the quay is a port crane, often a ship-to-shore gantry crane.
What is the difference between a ship crane and a deck crane?
There is little practical difference: “ship crane” covers every crane on a vessel, including engine-room cranes and davits. “Deck crane” means a crane fixed on the open deck, which is where most cargo and stores cranes stand.
Can a hydraulic knuckle boom crane work as a provision crane?
Yes, that is a common application, because a knuckle boom folds into a compact envelope near the accommodation and reaches over the rail to the quay or a supply boat. Size it by the load at that outreach, and check the rules your flag state applies to stores cranes.
Does BOB-LIFT build cargo ship gantry cranes or offshore cranes?
No. We build hydraulic knuckle boom and telescopic marine cranes from 0.8 t to 25 t rated capacity, for stores, deck service, workboats, barges and small cargo vessels. Large cargo cranes, port gantry cranes and offshore cranes are outside our range.
Are BOB-LIFT marine cranes approved by a classification society?
We do not claim classification society approval. We supply drawings, load charts, weights and foundation loads for your yard and surveyor. If your ship needs a class-approved crane, raise it before ordering so it can be checked with your classification society.
How we compiled this guide
We compiled the crane names and rules from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore circular on SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13, the UK guidance MGN 332, the US longshoring rules in 29 CFR 1918 and US Navy fact files. Every BOB-LIFT figure comes from the technical drawings and load charts of the SQ08ZA3TJ+1, SQ5ZA3TJ, SQ10ZA6TJ, SQ12SA4T, SQ20SA5T and SQZ500T. The photos and video come from our customers. Names and rules are quoted only from the documents linked above, and crane figures only from our drawings. This page replaces our earlier article on the types of cranes used on a ship.
Get a crane matched to your ship
Tell us the ship type, the crane’s job, your heaviest load and the outreach you need over the side, and send the deck plan if you have it. We will propose a model with its load chart, weight and foundation loads, so your yard can check the installation. Contact us for a quotation.
