It’s another day at the terminal: the vessel queue is growing, the ship’s crew is watching the clock, and all you can think is: how can we get this ship unloaded faster? If you’ve ever asked yourself that question, you’re not alone. Bulk terminals around the world are under increasing pressure to handle higher volumes in less time. While many managers consider adding manpower or investing in larger equipment, one key factor is often overlooked: crane and grab cycle speed.
First things first, what do we mean by crane speed?
Crane speed isn’t just about how fast the crane lifts or lowers, it’s the total time to complete one full grab cycle: hoisting, slewing, positioning, grabbing, and releasing. In operations, this is often measured in cycles per hour and expressed in Free Digging Rate (tonnes per hour).
To give you an idea: a typical gantry ship unloader completes around 60 cycles per hour during the free digging phase.
Every second counts and costs
As an experienced terminal manager, you know how quickly small time losses can escalate. Every delay in your cycle reduces the number of grabs per hour, which slows down vessel turnaround. The result? Higher demurrage costs, pressure on berth planning, and delays throughout the logistics chain.
That’s why optimizing crane performance is key to keeping operations on schedule and on budget.
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