Straddle carriers are often used to assemble containers without requiring them to be fixed to a particular region. Multi-directional forklift, which is used to lift and move containers from ships, can only move along a set of rails. Straddle carriers, on the other hand, are not subject to such limitations.
Functions of Straddle Carriers
Let us first examine the different features that these carriers undertake.
Straddle carriers have three primary functions in the port:
They are responsible for container movement within the port.
Loading and unloading trailer-bed trucks.
Containers should be stacked.
Once the main spreader cranes have unloaded containers from ships onto the harbour yard, they must frequently be transported to specific trailer loading areas. Straddle carriers reach specific loads and latch on to them for this purpose.
They proceed to the designated drop off location once it has been lifted. If provisions are made, two containers can be interlocked and lifted at the same time. This slows the carrier down, but it reduces the number of trips and increases efficiency. When the carrier arrives at the designated zone, the containers are loaded in the opposite order that they should be organised on trucks.
When this is finished, the straddle carriers proceed to the next trailer for loading. Rather than straddle carriers, several ports use large spreader cranes for this purpose. However, in areas where space is limited and there is a need for quick transportation, these carriers are more efficient and advantageous when compared to other modes of transportation.
The final function that these carriers perform is container stacking. Containers are frequently required to be stacked in a specific order for a variety of reasons. This does not have to take place on port property. Maximum space utilisation is required in warehouses and container depots.
These are used to align and lock container stacks together by arranging them on rails. Individual containers within a stack are also locked in place. This allows for the safe stacking of large towers of containers.
Advantages
The main advantage of using a straddle carrier over a spreader crane is that it can easily fit in tight spaces that would otherwise be impossible to access. Because spreader cranes are generally restricted to rails, they cannot always reach all areas of a port. Another reason to use straddle carriers.
Straddle carriers seem to be the most recent successful transportation logistics innovation, with immense potential in coastal uses.
Also power pusher and other lifting machines as straddle carriers have many advantages that help in different ways.
