Posts

Crane Safety Requires Precision Measurements Ship to Shore

Maritime companies include businesses and governments that develop and utilize hardware to support shipyards, marine terminals, cargo and trade support, exploration and defense, fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing, commercial diving, energy infrastructure and platforms, along with marine transportation. There are multiple categories of maritime companies, including those that build ships, provide maintenance, and oversee logistics for moving an estimated 11 billion tons of goods every year.

A subset of these maritime companies operate vessels and equipment that are responsible for the transport of people and cargo. It is estimated that in the United States, maritime companies employ over 400,000 workers. They are responsible for operating, transporting, moving, and transferring equipment and materials. There is a heavy reliance on reliable cargo cranes and lifting equipment to assist workers in these functions.

Due to the nature of work, safety and regulation are key to maintaining core operations for any type of maritime transport. The work performed on the vessels, as well as on dock, rely on heavy-duty equipment that utilizes accurate measurement for performance, weighing, monitoring, and reporting. Fundamental is the durability of the sensor equipment to withstand unpredictable environmental conditions. Quality, ruggedized equipment that is durable is vital in the operations that utilize waterways to transport goods port to port. This is where Interface plays a vital role as a supplier of measurement and weighing solutions that are designed for maritime use.

One of the most common use cases for Interface Maritime solutions is in the design and operational use of cranes. Cargo handling and crane operations are considered to be one of the most dangerous maritime jobs. The unpredictable nature of onshore and offshore environments requires crane operators to function with precise and accurate measurements throughout all procedures.

Sensors and instrumentation must be able to withstand the various exposures related to maritime work, while meeting the demanding schedules for heavy lifting, as well as moving single and multiple cargo containers at a time. In these types of maritime operations, speed is also an advantage for loading and unloading vessels. Considerations of weight of the cargo and environmental condition monitoring require accurate measurement.

Crane Capacity Verification and Block Safety Monitoring

As demonstrated in the Crane Capacity Verification Application and Crane Block Safety Check Application, a customer requires a system to detect if their crane block can lift heavy loads securely, in order to keep working conditions and personnel safe at docks and other maritime transportation applications. If lifting capacities are exceeded, the customer wants a system to alarm them in real-time.


Interface products are ideal for use in heavy equipment that the maritime industry relies upon for a wide variety of equipment used to push, pull, lift, release, contain, and move things in water and on land. Wireless and environmentally protected submersible solutions are standard fare for this industry. Interface load cells, torque transducers, load pins, load shackles and tension links, as well as DAQ and instrumentation solutions provide accurate force and torque data to monitor and confirm the design and in-action processes.  To keep your instrumentation protected, inquire about our Interface Enclosures.

Additional Resources

  1. Maritime Measurement Solutions for Onshore and Submersible Applications
  2. Ruggedized Test and Measurement Solutions Webinar
  3. Interface Submersible Load Cells
  4. Serving the Maritime Industry
  5. Hydrofoil Testing in Wave Tank
  6. Crane Force Regulation
  7. Crane Capacity Verification
  8. Crane Block Safety Check
  9. WTS Yacht Rigging Inspection
  10. Mooring Line Tension Testing
  11. Mooring Quick Release Hooks (QRH)
  12. Commercial Fishing Wire Rope Testing

Maritime Measurement Solutions for Onshore and Submersible Applications

Maritime test and measurement applications are some of the most unique because they require specially designed equipment that can handle the often-harsh environments in testing, and during ongoing operational use.

The solutions for the maritime industry require technologies that measure force, torque, and weight under extreme and uncommon conditions. Interface provides products that have been used for withstanding the rigorous requirements of monitoring underwater tension lines, seaborne components and material testing, boat and ship engine testing, equipment durability and safety regulation monitoring, lift capacity measurements, energy extraction equipment, and storm and tsunami monitoring.

We have been a long-time supplier of sensor technologies and instrumentation that are applied in building and maintaining boats, yachts, and other water vessels of all sizes. Our force measurement solutions are used for waterborne vessels, maintenance, safety equipment, and offshore products. You can learn more in our maritime case study here.

Interface offers a wide variety of submersible and wireless load cells, DAQ, and instrumentation products. Our rugged load shackles, load pins and tension links are very popular for maritime test and measurement applications. Maritime manufacturers and field users rely on these quality products as they are designed for test and measurement requirements onshore, near-shore, and completely undersea.

Interface Maritime Capabilities and Solutions:

  • Stainless steel and rugged load cell designs for different temperatures and climates
  • Environmentally sealed products used in harsh environments
  • Wireless telemetry system components
  • Custom solutions based on safety and regulatory specifications
  • OEM engineered products for submersible use cases
  • Bluetooth and Wireless data acquisition and instrumentation for safety monitoring
  • Load pins and load shackles for continuous hoist and lifting applications

Included below are a few examples of applications our products are used for testing, force measurement, performance monitoring, regulatory and equipment maintenance:

  • Weight and tension monitor
  • Motor and engine testing
  • Submersible equipment tests
  • Commercial fishing wire rope testing
  • Hydrofoil testing in wave tank
  • Crane block safety check
  • Mooring tension testing and quick release hooks (QRH)
  • Crane capacity verification and force regulation
  • WTS yacht rigging inspection
  • Defense submergible tests

Interface understands that the maritime industry has high standards and requirements for force and torque testing, measurement, and weighing.  Accuracy in testing is absolutely critical. Interface’s quality measurement solutions provide accurate data needed for all types of maritime equipment used to ensure safety and success. Our Interface expert engineers can help you design customizable solutions for all types of applications using our products designed for offshore, underwater, and splash zone locations.

This is just a preview of our capabilities in the maritime industry. To learn more, check out our maritime solutions. We also recently developed a new maritime solutions brochure, which provides in-depth information on our submersible product offerings, as well as other ruggedized products for maritime applications.

Maritime-Brochure