Crawler-Type Mobile Ship Loader

The crawler-type mobile ship loader carries a ship-loading conveyor on a crawler undercarriage, so it travels widely across a port apron and adjusts to any vessel type and hold layout. At coal export ports it transfers coal from the stockyard to carriers with high efficiency; the same machine serves ore, grain, fertilizer, cement and aggregate trades. SANTO builds it for tough, continuous duty.

Key Features and Engineering Highlights

Technical Specifications

Specifications are indicative for the standard configuration. Belt width, boom length, drive power, chassis type and discharge height are engineered to your material and duty cycle — send us your requirements for a tailored data sheet.

Crawler loading principle

Material is fed from the stockyard or a quay conveyor onto the loader’s belt and carried to the boom tip, which luffs and rotates to place cargo in the hold. The crawler base lets the whole machine reposition along the apron as the vessel loads.

Automated control manages conveying, boom movement and loading position, with fault diagnosis and warning to keep downtime low. The 360° boom means one berthing position can fill holds on either side.

Automation and build

The control system handles material flow and boom motion, reducing manual work and raising accuracy. High-strength, corrosion-resistant steel and a stable frame let the loader work through wind and heavy loads.

This crawler variant complements the wheeled mobile ship loader; choose crawlers when ground is soft or when maximum stability and capacity are needed.

• Automated loading control
• Real-time fault diagnosis and warning
• Corrosion-resistant steel structure
• Extendable boom with multiple discharge points

Industries and cargoes

Application areas span ports and terminals, mining (ore transfer and loading near ports), power (coal to plant berths), chemical (bulk fertilizers, soda ash) and building materials (cement, sand, gravel). It loads coal, iron/copper ore, grain, cement, fertilizer, soda ash, sand and gravel.

For ore specifically it receives crushed and screened product at the line end and loads it for export or further processing — a role it shares with a feeder track stacker on the stockyard side.

• Coal export terminals
• Iron and copper ore ports
• Grain export elevators
• Cement, sand and fertilizer wharves

Selection and operation guidance

Select crawler mounting for unstable aprons or when you need the highest continuous rate; the 360° boom reduces repositioning of the main body. Size the belt and boom reach to your largest vessel.

Keep dust suppression active on dry cargoes and use the automated fault system for predictive maintenance, since vessel demurrage cost far exceeds the loader’s running cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What boom movement does it have?

The boom luffs and rotates up to 360°, covering the vessel from one berthing position and serving multiple holds.

Which cargoes can it load?

Coal, iron/copper ore, grain, cement, fertilizer, soda ash, sand and gravel, among other dry bulk.

Why choose crawler over wheeled?

Crawlers give stability on soft or uneven ground and support larger capacities; wheels move faster on firm docks.

How is dust controlled?

Discharge-point dust extraction and spray systems plus low-noise design limit environmental impact during loading.