Description
Operate ship-to-shore, mobile harbor, and yard cranes to safely lift and move containers and cargo between vessels, trucks, rail, and storage areas at a port.
- • Determine container or cargo weights and verify against crane and rigging limits to prevent overload.
- • Operate ship-to-shore, mobile harbor, or yard cranes using cab controls to load and unload vessels and place containers.
- • Inspect wire ropes, spreaders, twistlocks, and rigging for wear; replace or report defects.
- • Clean, lubricate, and perform basic maintenance on hoist systems, sheaves, ropes, and spreaders.
- • Test and adjust brakes, limit switches, and lifting attachments to prevent malfunctions.
- • Direct ground crews in setting up outriggers, barricades, and exclusion zones for mobile cranes.
- • Transfer containers and break-bulk cargo between ships, trucks, rail, and yard stacks.
- • Monitor load indicators or spreader scales and record lift counts and exceptions.
- • Review vessel stow plans and work orders to set lift sequence and special handling.
- • Coordinate by radio with signalers, lashers, and truck drivers to position equipment and secure or release containers.
- • Verify container IDs, seals, and condition per terminal procedures; report damage and discrepancies.
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Advanced Manufacturing
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
