Engineering
The foundation of the upgrade: survey, structural assessment, extension design and a coordinated work pack.
CRANE SERVICE / UPGRADES
Crane upgrades
Engineering, portal heightening and boom girder extensions for existing STS cranes.
STARKON engineers and carries out crane upgrades, from the first survey and structural design to jacking, installation and handover. We heighten the crane portal to increase lift height under the spreader. Boom girder extensions are a separate upgrade to increase outreach.
Discuss your crane upgradeEngineering comes first.
STARKON provides the engineering for the upgrade. We establish the existing condition, assess the portal and leg structure, and develop the extension and its connections. Where the legs have no flange, the design includes a welded insert. The engineering brings the structural modification, temporary support, lifting arrangement and related crane systems into one work pack.
The survey, calculations, drawings, lift plan and welding sequence are coordinated before the crane stops. Site execution follows that project-specific engineering package.
STS crane heightening
Larger ships need more lift height under the spreader. Heightening the STS cranes you already have can be faster than buying new ones. Where the terminal layout allows the crane to be moved to a temporary work site, the berth can remain in service while the work takes place off the crane row.
What the job covers
- Survey of the crane, portal and leg structure, and the available work area.
- Engineering of the portal extension and connections, including a welded insert where the legs have no flange.
- A lift plan and, where required, relocation to a temporary work site so the quay can keep operating.
- Jacking, fitting and welding the new leg sections, followed by controlled jacking down.
- Associated changes to access, cable reels, the boom girder and electrical systems where the extra height requires them.
- Testing, reinstatement and returning the crane to the operating row.
How it runs
Survey & work pack
Survey the crane and complete the engineering and work pack before the crane stops.
Prepare off the critical path
Prepare the jacking system and extension steel in advance of the outage.
Move & jack
Move and jack one crane at a time within the terminal’s agreed work window.
Install & reinstate
Fit and weld the new sections, align the structure and reinstate access and services.
Test & hand over
Perform functional testing and hand the crane back for operation.
More height. More reach.
STS crane heightening
Raising the crane portal and installing new leg sections to increase the available lift height.
Boom girder extensions
Extending the boom girder to adapt crane outreach to the required operating envelope.
Boom girder extensions
More outreach requires a different modification from portal heightening. STARKON engineers and installs boom girder extensions, assessing the existing structure, connections and affected crane systems. The survey and required operating envelope determine the extension design and scope of work.
ZEEBRUGGE / +9 M
Four STS cranes raised by 9 metres in Zeebrugge
In Zeebrugge, Belgium, STARKON worked together with ZPMC to raise four ship-to-shore (STS) cranes by 9 metres. The project is a practical example of upgrading existing port equipment through close cooperation on site.
View the Zeebrugge project