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Electro-hydraulic Marine Crane with Single-Section Stiff Boom (GMK 27-9),
SWL 3 t, Boom Outreach 9 m

Izhora Hydrosystems LLC offers full-slewing electro-hydraulic marine cranes GMK 27-9, equipped with a single-section stiff boom mounted on a slewing system, with a boom outreach of 9 m and a safe working load (SWL) of 3 t, intended for the following operations:

  • loading and unloading of cargo between quay and vessel deck;
  • mechanization of cargo handling operations on deck;
  • ship-to-ship transfer of small-tonnage containers;
  • construction, repair, and maintenance of floating units.

The project was originally developed for installation on a naval vessel under a Russian Navy order as part of an import substitution program. Accordingly, the GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic deck crane complies with the following requirements:

  • Rules of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS);
  • Requirements of the State Technical Supervision Authority of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation – PGU SO VMF-83;
  • Orders of the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation No. 792 dated 21 December 2017 and No. 662 dated 30 October 2015.

Advantages of the GMK 27-9 Crane

The crane is equally suitable for installation on naval vessels, commercial ships, and other floating or stationary offshore installations.

The key advantages of the GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic marine crane include:

  • Competitive cost.
  • Use of domestically produced materials and components only.
  • Ease of transportation and deck installation due to a modular design.
  • Operational safety and simplicity of operation and maintenance.
  • Total service life of 30 years, with 13 years until factory overhaul.
  • High configurability: optional equipment allows the crane to be easily adapted to customer requirements and to the specific structural features of the vessel or ship.

Configuration of the GMK 27-9 Marine Crane

Izhora Hydrosystems LLC manufactures electro-hydraulic cranes to order, offering both standardized series production and custom-engineered solutions. This approach allows the standard crane design to be adapted and upgraded to meet the specific requirements and structural features of a particular vessel.
For example, the GMK 27-9 marine crane is designed for 360° continuous slewing as standard. If required, the slewing range may be limited to specified angles to ensure safe operation and to protect deck structures.

GMK 27-9 marine hydraulic crane at the Izhora Hydrosystems production facility

The standard configuration of the GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic marine crane includes a control system based on an industrial PLC, as well as two dual-axis inclinometers. One inclinometer is installed on the crane structure, while the second is mounted on the crane boom. This arrangement enables calculation of the boom inclination angle both relative to the deck surface and relative to the water surface.

Optional Features

The GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic deck marine crane can be equipped with a range of optional features. Some of these options are implemented through PLC software modifications and therefore do not require installation of additional hardware components.

  • Monitoring of external operating conditions, such as sea state detection and measurement of vessel heel and crane structure inclination, under which crane operation is restricted or prohibited.
  • Measurement of the boom outreach angle relative to the deck surface and the water surface, with data displayed on the operator control station. Operator-adjustable boom outreach limitation may be set via the control station, for example to increase lifting capacity at shorter radii.
  • Remote diagnostics and cloud-based monitoring of crane equipment status via the Internet. Electronic maintenance and repair logbook with the capability to issue notifications for scheduled maintenance and overhaul based on accumulated operating hours.
  • Tandem operation of two GMK 27-9 cranes in a master–slave configuration, for example for handling long loads. This mode is implemented by installing absolute multi-turn angular position sensors on the winch and slewing drive, interconnecting the cranes via a local network, and upgrading the PLC software. In this mode, one crane is controlled by the operator, while the second crane operates synchronously;
  • Active heave compensation during vertical load handling while maintaining a specified above-water or underwater position. This mode is implemented by installing a vertical motion (heave) sensor on the crane or by receiving the required heave data from the vessel’s onboard systems via a local network, combined with PLC software modifications.
  • Constant tension mode for safe and convenient handling of lifeboats, boats, tenders, and other objects with positive buoyancy. This mode is implemented by incorporating a dedicated hydraulic circuit in the winch drive that maintains constant pressure independently of flow rate. An additional wave crest pick-up function may be implemented to reduce load oscillation caused by incoming waves and to minimize the risk of impact against the vessel’s side.
  • Load sway minimization mode during load transfer, implemented by introducing motion trajectory calculation algorithms into the crane PLC software. The algorithm uses input data from the winch drive encoder (rope pay-out length) and the load weight measured by the standard load-sensing pin.

Ordering Information

For consultations or to place an order for the GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic marine stiff boom crane, please contact our sales team
via the “Contacts” section of the website.
Phone: +7 (812) 339-61-68
E-mail: contact@i-hydro.ru

Development History and Design Features of the GMK 27-9 Electro-hydraulic Marine Crane

Due to the requirement for import substitution, a full-slewing electro-hydraulic stiff boom deck crane was required for installation on a serial naval vessel to handle various types of cargo, including hazardous materials, both on deck and on the quay, as well as for launching, recovering and servicing a workboat. On earlier vessels of the same project, imported standard cranes manufactured by Palfinger had been installed.

When imported electro-hydraulic marine cranes were supplied, certificates issued by foreign classification societies were accepted, whose requirements were largely comparable to those of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) for deck equipment on commercial vessels. However, since the new naval crane was ordered as a project-specific solution rather than purchased as a standard catalogue product, a mandatory requirement was imposed for acceptance by the State Technical Supervision Authority of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, whose requirements are significantly more stringent than those of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) or foreign classification societies.

At the time of the order, Izhora Hydrosystems LLC was the only Russian manufacturer among those approached by the customer that agreed to undertake the task and assume full responsibility to the Russian Navy for the design and manufacture of a domestic equivalent of a stiff boom electro-hydraulic marine crane with a safe working load of 3 t and a boom outreach of 9 m. The completed crane was required to undergo acceptance by the Russian Navy, the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, and the State Technical Supervision Authority.

Due to the more stringent operating conditions and higher structural safety margins, the GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic marine crane was designed with higher power and larger overall dimensions compared to the Palfinger product. In terms of performance characteristics, it is positioned between the standard Palfinger PSM400 and PSM600 models.

During installation on the vessel, certain challenges arose, as the original design had allocated deck space for a crane of smaller dimensions and lower weight. During installation, engineers from Izhora Hydrosystems LLC provided on-site technical support to shipyard personnel and assisted in resolving emerging installation issues. All challenges were successfully resolved, and the crane was installed in its designated deck position. Following installation and completion of testing, no deficiencies were identified.

Operating Conditions and Features of the GMK 27-9 Full-Slewing Boom Crane

To increase cargo handling efficiency, the control system of the fully slewing deck crane enables load movement along complex trajectories by performing multiple motions simultaneously in any combination, including:

  • outreach adjustment;
  • boom luffing;
  • crane slewing;
  • load hoisting and lowering using the winch.

When motions are performed sequentially, the marine crane operates at maximum speeds; during simultaneous operation, speeds are reduced accordingly. Stepless speed control is implemented over the entire speed range for all crane motions. Cargo handling operations can be controlled by a single operator using either a portable control pendant or a local control station installed on the service platform.

The GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic stiff boom marine crane is designed for continuous operation in both hot and cold climates within an ambient temperature range from –32 °C at 85% relative humidity to +30 °C at 60% relative humidity.

Operational capability is maintained not only in calm water conditions, but also at sea states up to 3 and wind loads up to 400 Pa. Cargo handling operations are permitted during sustained vessel heel of up to 5° to either side and trim of up to 2° by the bow or stern.

When secured in the stowed condition, the deck crane remains operational after prolonged exposure to wave or wind loads of up to 2000 Pa, as well as other factors resulting in sustained vessel heel of up to 15° to either side or trim of up to 5°. The equipment withstands roll amplitudes of up to 40° and pitch amplitudes of up to 10°.

Boom of the GMK 27-9 deck marine crane on boom rest

The stiff boom deck crane has two primary positions:

  • Stowed position, in which the boom luffing cylinder rod is fully retracted, the boom is lowered, the boom catcher is seated in its support, and the hook block is secured using tie-down restraints.
  • Working position, in which the boom luffing hydraulic cylinder is used to adjust outreach and hook lifting height, while the hoisting winch and slewing mechanism are used to lift, lower, and position the load within the crane’s working area.

The GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic marine crane requires minimal preparation for operation, which is particularly important in emergency or non-standard situations. Preparation is limited to:

  1. visual inspection of the equipment for absence of visible damage, obstructions, or irregularities;
  2. power-up;
  3. starting the hydraulic power unit;
  4. releasing the hook block tie-down restraints in the stowed position;
  5. checking functional movements;
  6. commencing lifting operations.

Upon completion of cargo handling operations, the stiff boom marine crane is returned to the stowed position, the hook block is secured with tie-down restraints, the hydraulic power unit is shut down, and the power supply is switched off.

GMK 27-9 deck electro-hydraulic marine crane on board, stowed position

Technical Specifications of the GMK 27-9 Full-Slewing Electro-hydraulic Marine Stiff Boom Crane

  • Safe Working Load (SWL), calm water, 9 m outreach – 3.0 t
  • Safe Working Load (SWL), Sea State 2–3, 9 m outreach – 2.6 t
  • Maximum boom outreach – ≥9 m;
  • Minimum boom outreach – ≤1.45 m;
  • Luffing Time (with 3.0 t load) – max. 30 sec;
  • Hoisting / lowering speed (no load) – ≥30 m/min, (rated load) – ≥18m/min;
  • Slewing speed at max. outreach with 3.0 t load – ≥1 rpm;
  • Crane slewing angle – 360о;
  • Hook hoisting travel – 57 m;
  • Crane weight (excluding hydraulic oil and boom rest) – 5200 kg;
  • Boom rest weight – 55 kg;
  • Electrical power supply – 3-phase / 380 V / 50 Hz;
  • Power consumption – ≤39 kW;
  • Hydraulic system operating pressure – ≤28 MPa;
  • Working fluid: AUP hydraulic oil, TU 38.1011258-89.

General Arrangement and Design of the GMK 27-9 Deck Stiff Boom Marine Crane

General arrangement and design of the GMK 27-9 deck stiff boom marine crane
  1. – column;
  2. – structure housing;
  3. – boom assembly;
  4. – service platform;
  5. – hoisting winch;
  6. – rotary joint;
  7. – hydraulic cylinder;
  8. – hook block;
  9. – floodlight;
  10. – slewing system;
  11. – slewing drive.

The slewing system is mounted on the column, which is welded to the deck foundation. A hydraulic power unit is installed inside the column. An oil cooler is mounted externally on the column to maintain the operating temperature of the hydraulic oil.

Hydraulic power unit of the GMK 27-9 marine crane
GMK 27-9 marine crane unit separated from the column

The slewing system with slewing drive is designed to rotate the stiff boom deck crane through 360° continuous slewing. After a full rotation, no return movement of the boom is required. The number of slewing revolutions in either direction is unlimited. The slewing drive is equipped with two independently acting brakes.

The hydraulic cylinder used for boom outreach variation is fitted with a single-acting counterbalance valve to hold the load during lowering. In the event of power loss to the hydraulic pump units, the boom with suspended load can be safely lowered under gravity by manual opening and closing of the counterbalance valve.

To ensure uninterrupted electrical power supply from the feeder and continuous transfer of hydraulic fluid from the pump to the hydraulic equipment during rotation of the crane superstructure, a combined hydraulic and electrical rotary joint with slip ring assembly is installed in the stationary part, inside the crane housing.

GMK 27-9 marine crane boom

For operation of the GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic marine crane, a welded service platform with guardrails and access gate is mounted on the crane housing. A fixed control station with a socket for connection of the portable control pendant cable is installed on the platform. The backpack-type portable control pendant is equipped with crane motion control devices and operating status indication.

Electrical equipment and external power cable connection points are located in a welded steel control cabinet. For illumination of the working area during cargo handling operations, a floodlight is provided, which can be switched on from either the portable control pendant or the fixed control station.

Operational Safety of the GMK 27-9 Stiff-Boom Deck Crane

The safety systems of the GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic marine crane collect and process data on the position and load of the actuators in order to prevent uncontrolled movements, impacts, or other emergency situations. Each mechanism is equipped with fault-detection sensors that transmit signals to initiate a complete shutdown, allowing diagnostics and fault elimination.

  • The electric motors of the hydraulic pump units are protected against overloads, phase loss, and short circuits in the electrical circuits, preventing equipment damage and minimizing crane downtime due to repair or replacement of failed components.
  • Temperature sensors provide thermal interlocking by blocking pump motor start-up when the hydraulic oil temperature is below the permissible limit and inhibiting crane operation when the oil temperature exceeds the allowable maximum.
  • Hydraulic components are protected by pressure relief valves that limit the maximum system pressure as well as the pressure in each individual hydraulic line.
  • A hydraulic oil level sensor interlocks crane operation in the event of an inadmissible drop in oil level in the hydraulic reservoir, providing indirect indication of possible leakage in the hydraulic circuit.
  • Safety of lifting operations is ensured by end-of-travel limit sensors, including approach to the upper hook position and detection of winding of the last three safety wraps of the hoisting wire rope on the winch drum.
  • A beam-type load cell provides overload limitation exceeding 10% of the rated Safe Working Load (SWL) under calm water conditions and 25% of the rated SWL at sea states 2–3.
  • Inclinometers are installed to calculate boom movement coordinates independently of vessel attitude during sea motion.
  • Visual indicators on control stations and control cabinets provide status information on overload conditions, inadmissible reduction of hydraulic oil level, high or low oil temperature, filter contamination, and system faults.
  • The crane is additionally equipped with a visual warning light tower and an audible alarm system.

Documentation and Warranty

Shipment process of the GMK 27-9 marine crane

For installation, commissioning, and convenient subsequent operation of the marine crane, the manufacturer supplies a complete set of working documentation, including the Installation and Operation Manual for the marine crane and associated equipment. Each unit is delivered with a shipping and acceptance checklist.

Equipment ensuring the operation of the GMK 27-9 deck marine crane, procured from third-party manufacturers, undergoes incoming inspection prior to installation to verify quality, functionality, and availability of all certificates required by applicable regulations.

For transportation to the installation site, the equipment and the spare parts and tools (SPT) set, excluding large steel structures, are packed in crates. All components are securely fixed and preserved to prevent unintended movement, damage, or deterioration. Installation of the deck crane on board the vessel is carried out by the customer in accordance with the supplied working and installation documentation.

To ensure uninterrupted operation of the full-slewing marine crane throughout its entire service life, all instructions relating to safety, commissioning, installation, operation, maintenance, dismantling, and disposal of the equipment shall be strictly and fully complied with.

Provided that the crane is operated in accordance with the instructions and the prescribed maintenance is performed, the manufacturer of the GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic marine crane, Izhora Hydrosystems LLC, guarantees achievement of the specified reliability and service life parameters:

  • Time to factory overhaul: 10000 operating hours
  • Total service life: 20000 operating hours
  • Service life to factory overhaul: 13 years
  • Total design service life: 30 years
For consultations or to place an order for the GMK 27-9 electro-hydraulic marine stiff boom crane, please contact our sales team
via the “Contacts” section of the website.
Phone: +7 (812) 339-61-68
E-mail: contact@i-hydro.ru