Porta Gantry: Flexible Lifting at Sea

Carl Büttner Shipmanagement GmbH is a long-established German ship management company with roots dating back to 1856, specialising in the technical and operational management of oil, product and chemical tankers. The company has built a reputation for safety, reliability and operational excellence, managing vessels that serve global energy supply chains. With extensive experience in tanker operations and a strong focus on efficiency, compliance and sustainability, Carl Büttner has been a trusted partner to shipowners for generations, delivering high standards of fleet management in some of the world’s most demanding maritime environments.

Carl Büttner Shipmanagement GmbH needed a gantry solution which was stable enough to work on deck, portable enough to be packed away neatly when not required, and durable enough to withstand the harsh environment at sea. They also needed a manoeuvrable system which could be moved under load around the deck, but which would remain secure and stable at all times.

Working alongside our channel partner Bruno Glettenberg GmbH, Reid supplied a Porta Gantry systems for each of the four ships. These can be packed away in a storage room when not in use, but quickly and easily assembled on deck to meet virtually any lifting requirement. Following a detailed assessment of the application, Reid’s German team specified a Porta Gantry configuration which they judged would give the crews on board as much flexibility as possible: a Tall Porta Gantry with a WLL of 2000kg with a 4570mm wide beam and Directional lock castors and a master link trolley.

The solution offers exceptional flexibility in demanding and corrosive marine environments. Direction lockable castors allow the gantry to be repositioned easily around on deck, even under load, and height adjustability up to a maximum lifting height of 3.5m. The Porta Gantry beam has holes along its length which allows the A-frames to be mounted inboard. This reduces the overall width of the gantry to allow for the system to fit into and operate in areas on the deck which have restricted space. Constructed from high strength aluminium the Porta Gantry combines lightweight portability with outstanding durability and corrosion resistance making it ideal for lifting at sea. It is also ATEX Zone 2 approved providing additional assurances for use in hazardous offshore and marine environments.