Harbor Crane Lighting

Due to the harsh (weather) conditions they operate in, harbor crane luminaries have to meet higher standards than general industrial lighting fixtures.

Cranes and harbor cranes in particular are often located near the sea where the weather conditions can be really tough. For that reason, harbor crane fixture must be resistant to salty air, hurricanes and heavy rain. Furthermore, they must withstand to G-forces and vibrations caused by a crane in full operations. To go short, harbor crane luminaires need to meet high quality and durability standards.

We solve your problem

Good crane lighting is fundamental for high labor productivity and safe working conditions. Conventional light sources are relatively heavy and large and consume a lot of electricity.

Furthermore, old fashioned gas discharge lamps need about 10-15 minutes to burn at full power and lumen output. This is not only time consuming it also simply costs money. Not to speak about the frustration of the crane operator.

Moreover, it is rather difficult to conduct maintenance or carry out replacements when dealing with high altitudes and bad weather conditions. It is often hard to open old luminaires for light source replacements due to corrosion of screws. In particular for harbor cranes located near the sea that have to manage salty conditions.

Another important fact is that many governments no longer allow certain gas discharge light sources. Numerous conventional lamps, such as Mercury Vapor, have already disappeared or will disappear completely from the market in the short term. When the lighting fails and replacement lamps are no longer available, the continuity of your business is affected.

Problems are also encountered when it comes to primary and secondary crane lighting.  Primarily, crane lighting should be focused on the lifting load and its immediate surroundings for optimal visibility and productivity. Secondary, good light is also needed in the wider crane surroundings, as well as under the crane to enhance safety conditions. Often many harbor cranes are equipped with more than enough secondary lighting, while the primary lighting, for example on the trolley or under the cabin, is insufficient.

We deliver

Portlight has optimal lighting solutions to adequately cope with such problems. We ensure that crane operators and other people who work on or around cranes always have optimal visibility to work safely and productively

The LED luminaires that Portlight offers are from A-class manufacturers. That explains their robustness, vibration-resistance and seaworthiness. Choosing for our LED solutions saves you considerably on maintenance and energy costs, while reliability is guaranteed. Our luminaries have a very long life-time and do not require any maintenance. Furthermore, after switching-on, they are immediately at full strength within a fraction of a second. Even after a hot restrike.

From a sustainability perspective we would like to highlight that LED reduces energy consumption by at least 50%, which in turn reduces CO2 output.

We know crane lighting

Since its foundation in 2003, Portlight has a considerable track record of expertise in the field of Harbor Crane lighting. We guarantee the right lighting solution for your equipment because we know and understand all different types of cranes in ports. Whether it is a Quay Crane (QC), a Ship to Shore (STS) Crane, a Rubber-Tyred Gantry Crane (RTG), an Automated Stacking Crane (ASC), a Rail-Mounted Gantry Crane (RMG) or any other type of crane that are present in ports.

We provide tailor made advice, share our expertise, make comprehensive light plans and we deliver high quality port lighting fixtures with a 5 years warranty. And, our after sales department is always at your service.

Our portfolio consists of high-end port crane fixtures that endure hard maritime conditions. Our fixtures are IP66 and up, meaning dust and (spray) water-proof. What is more, our harbor luminaires are highly shock and vibration resistant (with a minimum of IK08) and have a (partially) stainless steel body or have undergone a high-quality powder coating that is maritime-proof.

Moreover, the high-end polycarbonate (PC) lenses or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) lenses of our fixtures enable a wide array of beam angles in order to manage all types of applications easily. Besides, they are protected against dirt accumulation thanks to a tempered anti-static glass cover. All luminaires have a heavy duty (stainless) steel bracket and are equipped with safety chains.

Further down on this page you will find some examples of harbor crane lighting simulations we have made for one of our customers.

Prior to a great value for money quotation of state of the art harbor crane fixtures, our lighting engineers make you a tailor made light plan in Dialux to simulate your future lighting situation.

Just send your Autocat file (.dwg), pdf file, or just the sheer dimensions of your crane, and our light engineers make you a light calculation of the crane which is tailored to your specific requirements, and/or meeting the applicable norms.

How do we work?

Before you acquire our state of the art harbor crane fixtures, the process always starts with a tailor made light plan. Our lighting experts then create a computer simulation of your future lighting situation in Dialux.

Just send your Autocat file (.dwg), pdf file, or just the sheer dimensions of your crane, and our light engineers make you a crane light calculation tailored to your specific requirements, while meeting the applicable norms.

Would you like to know more about our harbor crane lighting solutions? Please contact us here !

Example of fixtures used by harbor cranes:

Sigma 2 crane-min

Stella LED

Kraanverlichting Stella Mini

Nanhua flood light crane-min

Nanhua flood light crane LF30-min

Please find below 8 benefits for replacement of your fixtures.

• Reduced cost and energy consumption
• Easy maintenance and high reliability
• Instant full power
• Sustainability
• Legislation and regulation
• Higher labor productivity
• Improved safety
• Business continuity

1. Reduced costs and energy consumption

 If we take a closer look at the lighting of harbor cranes, whether it is a STS quay crane, a gantry crane, or a RTG, all these cranes are generally fitted with conventional luminaires consuming lots of electricity. There are still many 400W High Pressure Sodium (SON/NAV) or Metal Halide (HPI/HQI) luminaires and occasionally 1000W or even 2000W.

In comparison with conventional light sources, it is a proven fact that LED lighting generates an electricity and cost saving of 50-80%.

2. Easy maintenance and high reliability

 We believe that less maintenance and higher reliability are, next to the savings on costs, essential reasons to switch to the LED luminaires from high-end producers that Portlight offers.

First of all, it is an expensive affair if cranes are not operational at dawn, night or dusk due to a lack of light, for instance at night. Secondly, conventional gas discharge light sources are vulnerable and therefore break easily when exposed to various and sometimes heavy vibrations during operations. Finally, the replacement of luminaires is really a difficult job with high costs for labor and rental materials caused by the high altitudes. In particular luminaires of harbor cranes that are positioned close to the sea are hard to unlock due to corroded screws caused by the salty weather conditions.

Portlight LED luminaires are free of maintenance because of their robustness, vibration-resistance and seaworthiness. As a result, they save you considerably on maintenance costs, while their reliability is guaranteed.

Another maintenance advantage refers to the easy replacement of default drivers of LED fixtures. Many of our fixtures are equipped with multiple drivers. Once a driver is damaged for whatever reason, the other driver(s) keep working and the crane remains in operation. The broken driver can then be replaced once the crane is taken out of production for general maintenance.

3. Instant full power

 Traditionally, cranes are equipped with conventional gas discharge light sources like High-Pressure Sodium (SON/NAV) or Metal Halide (HPI/HQI) taking approximately 10 minutes or more until they are at full strength. In addition, the light needs about 15 minutes to switch on again in case of a brief current interruption. Meanwhile neither the crane nor its operator is operational. This is just a waste of money.

The LED luminaires Portlight offers turn on instantly and are at full power within a split second. Additionally, they directly turn back to 100% (hot restrike) after a power cut. Therefore, production losses are no longer necessary.

4. Sustainability

 Today, more and more people are committed to protect the planet and to stop climate change. As a consequence, energy savings and CO2 emission reductions are part of the sustainability targets of many companies.

It is a fact that LED saves on energy consumption, hence it reduces the output of CO2.

We are dedicated to help our customers achieving their objectives in terms of sustainability with our Portlight lighting solutions.

5. Legislation and regulation

Governments from all over the world are increasingly taking responsibility for their contribution to a healthier environment. Since the Paris climate agreement, the requirements are getting stricter just as the regulation and the legislation on companies in order to reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, the sanctions are also becoming stricter and higher.

Today many companies are required by local authorities to replace their lighting with alternative solutions that save considerably on energy consumption. They can even refuse or revoke environmental declarations if the desired alternatives are not followed. Or they proceed to sanctions.

Portlight’s energy-saving harbor crane lighting offers the best alternatives to meet government imposed requirements, rules and regulations.

6. Higher labor productivity

Harbor cranes are often operational 24/7. In night-time conditions, it is paramount that the lighting always works properly.

It is scientifically proven that there is a correlation between better visibility and higher productivity. Simply put, people see their work better. As a result, they work faster and make less mistakes.

The Color Rendering Index (CRI) and the correct color temperature (K) both play an important role in determining the quality of light in a harbor environment. For instance, harbor crane lighting needs a lower color temperature in locations where oftentimes fog or heavy rainfall occurs. Portlight can assist you in choosing the right CRI and CCT in your surroundings.

Because the lighting on the latest Ship-to-Shore cranes is positioned on the main girders at high altitudes of i.e. 60m and up, narrow beam fixtures are required to bridge the large distance until the bottom of the hull of the ship. However, wide beam luminaires are needed on shorter ranges to prevent poor visibility due to (reflective) light spots.

A CRI of Ra> 80 is the standard of all Portlight luminaires for your crane lighting solutions, hence good visibility. We deliver the optimal color temperature in line with the application and with the needs of the customer. We have the expertise and the experience to combine wide-angel and narrow-angel luminaires for an optimal visibility. Our lighting experts are pleased to help you. For more information click here.

7. Improved safety

 Harbor cranes need to provide a good light level as well as a good light quality, mainly for safety reasons. Working on or nearby a crane is not without risks for employees, especially during interaction between man and machine. It is scientifically proven that superior light generates safer conditions to work. For many years now, it has been mandatory to wear a safety helmet, shoes and a reflective jacket during work in or around cranes and ports. However, safe light conditions are often (still) absent.

Newly installed, the level of light of conventional fixtures is adequate. However, the light output of theses lamps reduces significantly over time. The light output for gas discharge lamps like SON and HPI can decline up to 50% or even more over its lifetime. In addition, environmental pollution, like salty air, insects and rain makes the luminaires dirty and thus less effective.

The luminaires for (harbor) cranes in Portlight’s portfolio are all dust-, spray- and waterproof (IP66 or IP67). In addition, the cover glass consists of tempered glass that is processed with an antistatic treatment during production. This means that our polycarbonate (PC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) lenses are protected against insects, dirt and dust.

Our fixtures are highly efficient as they are armed with the highest quality LEDs and state of the art electronic drivers produced by A-manufacturers. It is proven that the depreciation in light output of these LEDs is just 20% during their lifespan.

EU norms

The companies that are committed to offer their peoples safe working conditions need to submit the local lighting Norms. For the EU, this norm is EN 12464-2 for outdoor lighting. Insurance companies are also strict on the the lighting conditions in the event of a calamity with (human) damage. Our experts are aware of the applicable norms and are pleased to advice you properly in order for you to offer safe working conditions while respecting the requirements imposed by the insurance company.

Let our lighting experts inform you how you can improve safety conditions while operating your harbor cranes. Contact us here!

8. Business continuity

Many governments already prohibit specific light sources. One of them is the mercury vapor lamp (HPL/HQL). This type of light sources is not available anymore. SON/NAV and HPI/HQI are about to disappear as well because they are inefficient and environmental harmful. Major manufacturers like Philips, Osram and GE already stopped the production of these lamps. In addition, it becomes more and more difficult to obtain the ballasts. As lighting plays a critical role for harbor crane operation, failure or non-availability of the lighting has a negative impact on the continuity of your business.

Portlight offers tailor made lighting solutions with reliable, high-quality and fairly priced products. Even for the most complicated harbor crane situations.

Are you interested in a lighting plan? Please contact us here.

Example of the renderings of a light plan for an SQC crane of ECT-Euromax at Maasvlakte, Port of Rotterdam: