GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Yard Crane
Yard cranes lift, reposition and stack containers within a container terminal or inland freight depot – the defining difference from quay cranes, which operate exclusively at the ship's side.
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Source: https://www.marineinsight.com/marine-equipment/what-is-yard-crane/
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Definition & Explanation
Yard cranes lift, reposition and stack containers within a container terminal or inland freight depot – the defining difference from quay cranes, which operate exclusively at the ship's side. Running on rubber tyres or fixed rails, they cover the full yard area and adapt to shifting block allocations. Large seaport terminals typically deploy Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes for flexible block layouts or Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes for high-density automated stacking. Smaller inland depots often rely on reach stackers as a cost-efficient alternative. A crane's moves-per-hour rate directly determines overall terminal throughput capacity.
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