🚢 Port & Marine Equipment
Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) Crane Inspection & Certification in Saudi Arabia
A rubber-tyred gantry crane is a wheeled container stacking crane that straddles a block of container rows and lifts boxes with a trolley-mounted spreader. RTGs are the main yard cranes at Saudi container terminals and inland logistics hubs, usually powered by an onboard diesel generator or in some fleets by a cable reel or hybrid system. Operating on open yards in heat and dust, they need independent checks of wheel steering, hoisting and protective devices that reflect actual yard conditions.
What we inspect on a rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) crane
- ✓Gantry legs, girder, trolley rails and corner connections checked for weld cracks, corrosion and distortion from container impact
- ✓Hoist wire ropes measured for broken wires, diameter loss and corrosion, with rope tensioners, sheaves and drum grooves checked for wear
- ✓Spreader twist locks, flippers, telescoping beams and container presence sensors tested for correct locked and unlocked indication
- ✓Wheel assemblies, tyres, steering rams and steering sensors inspected for wear, hydraulic leaks and correct operation in straight, crab and corner steering modes
- ✓Gantry drive motors, gearboxes and service and parking brakes tested for holding torque and wear
- ✓Anti-collision and anti-sway systems, stack height sensors, wind speed alarm, overload device and limit switches functionally tested
- ✓Power source reviewed: generator set, fuel and exhaust arrangements, or cable reel and collector for electrified machines
- ✓Operator cab, lighting, audible alarms, emergency stops and access ladders and platforms confirmed in good order
Common defects we find
- ✓Worn tyres, loose wheel nuts or steering misalignment causing drift in the container lane
- ✓Hydraulic hose leaks and seeping steering cylinders on the wheel bogies
- ✓Sticking spreader flippers and worn guide arms that cause mis-engagement when stacking in tight rows
- ✓Broken wires and damaged rope tensioners on the hoist system
- ✓Disabled or poorly adjusted anti-collision and stack height sensors
Risks of operating uncertified
- ✓Container dropped from the spreader into the yard or onto trucks and personnel below
- ✓RTG strikes another crane, a stack or a vehicle because anti-collision or steering systems have failed
- ✓Gantry structure damage from container impact or fatigue going unnoticed until it fails
Testing, standards & frequency
Load / performance test
A load test with certified test weights or a calibrated test container is typically carried out at 100% to 125% of rated capacity depending on the standard and client. The test covers hoisting, trolley travel, gantry travel with and without load, braking, spreader function and overload device settings.
Inspection interval
Typically at least annually for a full thorough examination, with more frequent tyre, rope and spreader checks and pre-mobilisation inspections where terminal or client rules require.
Standards referenced
- ISO 9927-1 (cranes, inspections, general)
- ASME B30.2 (overhead and gantry cranes)
- ISO 4309 (wire ropes, examination and discard criteria)
- ASME B30.20 (below-the-hook lifting devices)
Part of our Crane Inspection & Certification service. You receive an inspection report, Certificate of Conformity and inspection tag for passing equipment.
Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) Crane inspection by city
Industries using this equipment
FAQs
What do inspectors look for on an RTG crane that a daily operator check would miss?＋
Inspectors measure wire rope condition, test brake holding torque, check weld cracking in the gantry structure and verify that overload, anti-collision and stack height sensors trip at their set points. Daily operator checks usually cannot cover these items.
Do rubber-tyred gantry cranes need load testing after a spreader replacement?＋
Yes, a functional load test is normally required after a spreader change or major hoist repair to prove the lifting system and overload device work at the relevant capacity. Many terminal procedures require it before the crane returns to service.