The shipbuilding industry is an important indicator of a country’s overall industrial strength, while large shipbuilding gantry cranes are essential equipment for the construction of ultra-large vessels. Recently, the 300 ton shipbuilding gantry crane custom-built by Haitai Heavy Industry for Wanlong Heavy Industry was officially put into operation. With its high lifting capacity, stable and reliable performance, and accurate and efficient handling capabilities, the crane will provide critical equipment support for large ship section lifting, transfer, and hull block joining operations, further demonstrating the capabilities of China’s high-end shipbuilding lifting equipment.
As the shipbuilding industry continues to move toward larger vessels and higher efficiency, the overall performance requirements for lifting equipment have become increasingly demanding. Among the various stages of ship construction, lifting and joining large hull sections are particularly critical. Large steel structures weighing hundreds of tons place strict requirements on the crane’s rated lifting capacity, lifting height, span coverage, positioning accuracy, and safety margins.
When handling large hull sections, conventional lifting equipment can be limited by lifting capacity, operating stability, and positioning accuracy. These limitations can affect shipbuilding efficiency while also increasing the difficulty and safety risks of on-site operations. Therefore, selecting specialized equipment that can adapt to the complex working conditions of a large shipbuilding berth while combining high lifting capacity, stable operation, and precise positioning has become an important part of improving large-vessel construction capabilities.
Based on the actual working conditions of Wanlong Heavy Industry’s shipbuilding berth, Haitai Heavy Industry carried out targeted design work covering the crane structure, lifting system, operating controls, and safety protection systems. The result is this 300 ton shipbuilding gantry crane, developed specifically to provide a more stable and efficient lifting solution for large ship construction.
The 300 ton shipbuilding gantry crane delivered for this project has a rated lifting capacity of 300 tons and is equipped with a dual-trolley operating system. Depending on the requirements of different hull sections and components, the two hooks can operate together for coordinated lifting or work independently.
During the construction of large hull sections, the two trolleys can work together to complete the lifting, transfer, and precise positioning of large sections. When handling smaller or medium-sized ship components, they can also perform relatively independent lifting and transfer operations. This gives the crane greater flexibility on site while making better use of the equipment’s overall capacity.
The crane integrates a large-span rigid gantry structure, dual-trolley synchronous control technology, intelligent anti-sway and precision positioning technology, and a comprehensive safety interlock and protection system. Together, these technologies provide significant improvements in lifting capacity, adaptability to different working conditions, operating stability, and safety.
The crane features a rigid double girder gantry structure manufactured from high-strength steel. The structure has undergone multiple rounds of mechanical simulation and optimization, together with non-destructive testing, allowing it to maintain good structural stability under large-span and heavy-load operating conditions. This helps reduce the risk of structural deformation during long-term heavy-duty operation and makes the crane well suited to the actual requirements of large shipbuilding berths.
The dual-trolley synchronous control system is another important feature of the crane. It supports both coordinated dual-hook lifting and independent operation. For ultra-large hull sections, the two trolleys can work together to complete the overall lift. For medium and small components of different sizes, the operating mode can be adjusted as required. This flexibility allows the crane to handle a wider range of lifting tasks while improving overall equipment utilization.
For precision lifting operations, the crane is equipped with an intelligent anti-sway and laser positioning system that effectively controls load movement during lifting. Even when external conditions such as sea winds affect the operation, the system can assist with accurate positioning of hull sections, reducing the need for repeated manual corrections and lowering the risk of hull damage caused by positioning deviations. This provides additional support for the precise joining of large ship sections.
In terms of safety protection, the crane incorporates more than 20 safety functions, including overload protection, travel limit protection, wind-speed warnings, and fault self-diagnosis. A multi-level protection system has been established across the mechanical structure, electrical controls, and intelligent monitoring systems, improving the overall safety of the equipment under all-weather and high-intensity shipbuilding conditions.
Following its commissioning, the crane can take on large hull-section lifting tasks that would traditionally require several coordinated operations. It enables lifting, transfer, and precise positioning to be connected more efficiently, helping streamline the overall workflow on the shipbuilding berth.
According to the expected project application, the equipment is expected to increase the overall operating efficiency of Wanlong Heavy Industry’s shipbuilding berth by more than 40%, while reducing manual workload and construction safety risks. It will provide important equipment support as Wanlong Heavy Industry continues to expand its large-vessel construction capabilities.
For a large shipbuilding company, a high-performance shipbuilding gantry crane does much more than simply lift heavy loads. Its performance directly affects the efficiency of hull-section handling, the working rhythm of the shipbuilding berth, and the overall construction schedule. The commissioning of this 300 ton shipbuilding gantry crane also demonstrates Haitai Heavy Industry’s ability to develop professional and customized lifting equipment specifically for large shipbuilding applications.
From the initial analysis of working conditions and engineering design to steel structure fabrication, key component assembly, complete machine inspection, installation, and commissioning on site, Haitai Heavy Industry applies a full-process quality management approach to maintain strict control over manufacturing quality and equipment reliability.
The successful commissioning of this 300 ton shipbuilding gantry crane represents another achievement for Haitai Heavy Industry in the field of large shipbuilding lifting equipment. With established design and manufacturing capabilities, a comprehensive quality control system, and customized services for different shipyard working conditions, Haitai Heavy Industry will continue to provide reliable and efficient lifting equipment solutions for shipbuilding, heavy equipment manufacturing, large-scale construction, and other industries.
Looking ahead, Haitai Heavy Industry will continue to develop large lifting equipment toward higher lifting capacities, greater precision, smarter operation, and improved safety, drawing on its engineering expertise and manufacturing capabilities to provide reliable Chinese-made lifting solutions for large-scale projects worldwide.
