Port Equipment.

The machines that move a container from ship to yard to truck or train. What each one does, where it works, and its capacity and stacking height from the maker’s own datasheet.

Ship-to-shore crane

STSQuay

Row of ship-to-shore container cranes along the quay at Waltershofer Hafen, Hamburg — Photo: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Loads and discharges the ship. Runs on rails along the berth; the trolley travels out over the vessel on the boom. Crane size follows the widest ship it must reach across.

OutreachPanamax up to 38 m, Post-Panamax up to 45 m, Super Post-Panamax up to 55 m, Megamax above 53 m, dual trolley 60-75 m

Lift height30 m (Panamax) to 45 m+ (Megamax), 40-59 m dual trolley

Safe working load40-50 t single, 65 t twin lift, 65-85 t tandem

Gantry span15-35 m, 30-45 m dual trolley

Source: Liebherr STS datasheet 2026 (Liebherr). Typical range for the class; a given terminal’s machines may differ.

Rubber-tyred gantry crane

RTGYard stack

Stacks containers in yard blocks several rows wide, with a truck lane under the legs. On tyres, so it can change blocks.

Lifting capacity40 or 50 long tons under spreader

Span5 rows + lane: 19.4-21.4 m; 6 rows: 22.2-24.2 m; 7 rows: 25.0-27.0 m; 8 rows: 27.8-29.8 m

Stacking height1-over-3 (12.3 m lift) to 1-over-6 (21.0 m lift)

Wheels8 or 16

Source: Konecranes RTG technical document (Konecranes). Typical range for the class; a given terminal’s machines may differ.

Rail-mounted gantry crane

RMG / ASCYard stack, rail terminal

Gantry on rails over a fixed block or over rail tracks. Wider spans and cantilevers than an RTG; automated versions (ASC, ARMG) run most new yards.

Spanup to 48 m

Cantilevers (outreach)up to 2 × 18 m

Lift heightup to 19 m (1-over-5)

Capacity40-50 t standard

Source: Konecranes RMG technical document (Konecranes). Typical range for the class; a given terminal’s machines may differ.

Straddle carrier

SCQuay to yard, yard stack

Drives over a container, picks it up between its legs and carries it. One machine does the quay transfer and the stacking.

Capacity under spreader40, 50 or 60 t

Stackingup to 1 over 3 (4 high)

Max lifting height9.2 m or 12.0 m

Service weight66-72 t

Source: Kalmar straddle carrier data sheet (Kalmar). Typical range for the class; a given terminal’s machines may differ.

Reach stacker

RSSmall terminals, depots, rail and barge

Counterbalanced truck with a telescopic boom. Picks containers from the top and can reach over the first rows of a stack.

Lifting capacityup to 45,000 kg

Stacking (toplift)up to 6 high, 4 rows deep

Wheelbase6,000-7,500 mm

Source: Kalmar DRG420-450E (Kalmar). Typical range for the class; a given terminal’s machines may differ.

Empty container handler

ECHEmpty depots

Masted forklift with a side or top spreader for empties only. Light lift, very high stacks.

Lifting capacity7-11 t (one or two empties)

Stackingup to 8+1 high

Source: Kalmar empty container handlers (Kalmar). Typical range for the class; a given terminal’s machines may differ.

Terminal tractor

TT, yard truckQuay to yard, depots, DCs

Short tractor with a lifting fifth wheel that shunts trailers and terminal chassis inside a terminal. Not road legal in most ports.

Gross combination weight81,000-195,000 lb (36.7-88.5 t)

Fifth wheel lift capacity50,000-70,000 lb (22.7-31.8 t)

Source: Kalmar Ottawa T2 EV brochure (Kalmar Ottawa). Typical range for the class; a given terminal’s machines may differ.

Terminal chassis and trailers are in Truck and Trailer Types. Container sizes and tare are inContainer Types. Drawings are schematic, not to scale. Photos are from Wikimedia Commons under the license shown on each card.