Megacranes for Megaships

by Michael Jordan and Catherine Morris

Megaships, those larger than post-Panamax ships, need megacranes to service them. Although the sheer size of these giant cranes presents some challenges, the biggest challenge is productivity. The megaships will load and unload 4,000 boxes or more at one stop. While most agree that advanced electronic controls are needed and most use computer simulation to study performance, there is disagreement on the structure. Some want almost impossibly stiff cranes; others don’t care about stiffness. This paper discusses the pros and cons of various choices available to crane buyers.

• Paper