Floating cranes: the vessels that lift ships. Marcin Ryngwelski on when the quay is not enough

Shipyard cranes are a fixture of the skylines of Gdańsk, Gdynia, Szczecin, Rotterdam and Karlskrona, and the gantries of the former Gdańsk Shipyard - now a UNESCO World Heritage site - have become part of popular culture in their own right. There is, however, another category of crane without which many shipyards simply could not operate. In the latest instalment of his shipbuilding series, Marcin Ryngwelski, president of the management board of PGZ Naval Shipyard, looks at floating cranes.

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28 july 2026   |   14:04   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

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A ship that lifts ships

Let us start with something that is easy to overlook: a floating crane is a fully fledged vessel.

- A floating crane is subject to the same classification society rules as any other unit. It has to pass class surveys before it can be cleared for operation - stresses Marcin Ryngwelski.

Some are self-propelled, while others can only move with the assistance of tugs and pushers. Either way, they are all governed by the same laws of physics and the same regulations as ships.

Why a quayside crane will not do

The answer comes down to a single parameter: lifting capacity as a function of outreach.

- A typical shipyard crane may have a capacity of up to 150 tonnes, but only with the jib extended to 15 metres. Beyond that range the capacity drops sharply, and at an outreach of 30 metres it is down to just 30 tonnes - explains the head of PGZ Naval Shipyard.

Large yards, meanwhile, build vessels of considerable beam, which makes installing equipment or structural blocks from the quayside practically impossible. The same problem affects repair yards. If a job requires fitting or replacing components located 30 metres from the quay, turning the vessel around and repositioning it against the berth every time would be prohibitively expensive.

There is one more scenario in which a floating crane becomes irreplaceable. Where the build or repair strategy for large vessels assumes that main engines or superstructures will be installed after launching, their weight exceeds what quayside cranes can handle.

Maja versus the Asian giants

The largest floating cranes operating in Asian shipyards reach capacities of several thousand tonnes. Against that backdrop Poland's fleet looks modest, but it still commands respect.

- The largest floating crane in our yards is Conrad Consul, with a capacity of 400 tonnes, although the best known is Maja - notes Marcin Ryngwelski.

Precision, ballast and the bill to pay

Operating a floating crane also has its downsides. The first is cost. Services of this kind do not come cheap, and in most cases charges begin with the mobilisation of the crane and its crew alone.

The second challenge is stability and operational safety. When a load is being lifted, the utmost care must be taken to prevent an uncontrolled list. That is why vessels of this type are fitted with highly advanced ballast systems.

Despite the costs and the operational demands, the balance sheet is clear.

- A shipyard with its own floating crane holds a technological edge in the market and can take on highly complex projects - concludes Marcin Ryngwelski.

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