Marine Cranes Key Terms

Understand the ABCs of marine cranes

Marine cranes (also known as boat cranes, boat deck cranes or sea cranes) are useful on ship docks and offshore to load and unload the cargo. Other industries that use marine cranes are construction (for pier building) and logistics.

Whether you want to buy or rent a marine crane, you will need to be aware of various technical terms that state specifications and regulations for marine cranes. This guide intends to familiarize you with various marine crane key terms, including LMI, SWL, lifting capacity and LOLER.

WLL (Working Load Limit)

WLL is the maximum load that should be supported by the crane under any condition. Before selecting a marine crane, you should evaluate the maximum load requirements for your applications.

LMI (Load Moment Indicator)

LMI is an indicator that flashes when the crane reaches its lifting limits. LMI calculates the actual load being lifted, to ensure that the safe working load capacity is not exceeded.
Cranes Today, a magazine for the crane industry.

SWL (Safe Working Load)

SWL is the maximum mass or force that a crane is authorized to support in general service when the pull is applied in-line.

Lifting capacity

Lifting capacity (also known as load capacity) is the most important specification of a crane. Lifting capacity is the maximum load or force supported by the crane.

Metric dimensions

Metric dimensions are the dimensions of industrial products as per the Systeme Internationale (SI) standards. For marine cranes, the load capacity is measured in tones (or kilograms), according to the SI standards.

Imperial dimensions

Unlike metric dimensions, the imperial measurement system specifies the lifting capacity of a marine crane in pounds.
Technology Services (PDF), a part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, provides an informative document that explains the relationships between the different measurement units.

LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998)

LOLER aims to reduce the risks to the health and safety of workers, from any lifting equipment, including cranes. While using a marine crane, you must make sure that you are following these regulations.
For detailed information on LOLER, you can read through a technical article about LOLER by Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

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