Infrastructure, Construction & Industrial Facilities

Structural life assessment and modernisation of ship-to-shore container cranes

Assessed fatigue life of six 25-year-old STS cranes and specified structural repairs and drive modernisation to extend service by ten years.

6
Cranes assessed
+10 yrs
Life extension
5 of 6
Retained in service

The challenge

The operator needed to decide between replacing or extending the life of ageing cranes, with the decision contingent on the true structural condition and the cost of modernisation.

Our approach

We carried out rope-access visual and NDT inspection of critical welds, 3D-scanned the boom and portal structures, built FE models to assess fatigue damage under historic and projected duty, and specified repairs, reinforcement and a drive and control modernisation package.

The outcome

Five of six cranes were confirmed for a ten-year life extension with defined repairs; one was recommended for replacement. The modernisation was executed with minimal berth disruption.

Representative engagement. Client identity and certain project details are withheld or generalised under confidentiality agreements.

Standards applied

  • FEM 1.001
  • IS 807 / 3177
  • AWS D1.1
  • ISO 9712

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