Access Gangway

There are three types of Gangway:

1- The Tower Type: Gangway Tower has a telescopic gangway that vertically moves along the tower by means of a lift platform. As a result, the gangway-tower can cover ship deck levels from Small Barges up to Ultra Large Crude Carriers, in combination with the ship movements (tidal, loading/unloading, drifts etc). Each lift station can be reached by the access stairs and platforms mounted inside the tower structure.

Once the gangway has been positioned on the ship’s deck and reaches its maximum up or down angle, the lift platform will automatically go the next level, without the need for an operator to be present. Prior to this movement an alarm will alert all personnel to clear the gangway. Also the surge and sway movements of the vessel will be freely followed within its design range.

The gangway movements are powered by hydraulic cylinders, operated by a hydraulic control box mounted on the lift platform. The lift platform movement is powered by a hoisting device (winch or hydraulic cylinder).

Gangway Tower has many optional features like a (hydraulic) crane, fire monitor(s), control cabin(s) and (metal) coverage for protection of its users against i.e. extreme weather conditions. Also other specific Client requirements can be integrated in the Gangway Tower design.

Because of its proven and robust design, the Gangway Tower has a long design life and low maintenance cost.

2-The column type, with a telescopic gangway at a fixed height. The column type is suitable for reaching ship deck levels from well below up to a maximum of approximately 18 meter (54 feet) above jetty deck.

The column has a turn able platform at a fixed height which can be reached by access stairs mounted to the side of the main structure. The telescopic gangway is mounted to the turn able platform and after positioning on the vessel’s deck will freely follow all movements within its design range without the need for an operator to be present. The gangway movements are powered by hydraulic cylinders, operated by a hydraulic control box mounted on the control platform.

The column type can optionally be equipped with stores crane, lighting, alarms, fire monitor support(s) and/or cabin(s). Also other specific Client requirements can be integrated in the Gangway Column design.

The largest benefit of the Column design is that it has a small foundation plate, requiring very little space on the jetty deck.

Because of its proven and robust design, the Gangway Column has a long design life and low maintenance cost.

3-The riding ladder can be used when the variation in ship’s deck levels is limited and sufficient space on the jetty deck is available. The Riding Ladder Systems vary in their design from a simple hand powered up to a fully hydraulic or electric powered design. Normally, the riding ladder system has a gangway with a fixed length. The sway movement of the vessels is compensated by the riding movement.

The positioning of the gangway onboard of the vessel can either be with a hoisting davit, hydraulic crane or with hydraulic cylinders. The riding movement is powered by either man power, the crane or davit or by a hydraulic riding motor.

In general, the riding ladder is more economic in design compared to the tower and column designs with similar operational envelopes but it requires much more space on the jetty.