Ship transfer system (STS)
Ship and submarine transfer systems (STS) are designed for the transfer of vessels within the territory of a shipbuilding/ship repair enterprise in both longitudinal and transverse directions.
The STS is optimized for integrated operation with a vertical shiplift and a set of ship transfer beams (trestles, transverse + keel/longitudinal) included in the STS scope of supply.
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Ship transfer system with 14 000 t capacity Ship transfer system with 19 000 t capacity
All the equipment is designed, manufactured and tested in Russia at our own production facility.
Ship transfer systems are designed and supplied in accordance with the technical specifications and are optimized for operation in the conditions of a specific shipbuilding or ship repair facility.
The design of equipment is carried out in accordance with the requirements of:
- Lloyd's Register Rules "Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment" (July 2025);
- TU-3450-001-58311503-2016 - "Equipment for transporting ships (block sections, modules)";
- TU- 6418-005-58311503-2016 - "Ship lifting and ship launching equipment";
- 741-12-330-75 "Rules for the design and safe operation of ship-carrying and ship-launching equipment"
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Technical design department |
Production of |
Hydraulic power unit (HPU) assembly |
Composition of the standardized ship transfer system:
- Hydraulic power unit (HPU) with an automated control system and electric or diesel engine driving;
- Rotatable or non-rotatable self-propelled ship transfer trolleys (bogies);
- The Mobile Hose Carriage;
- Set of trolley connections;
- Set of high-pressure hoses.
Hydraulic power unit (HPU)
The Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) with an Automated Control System (ACS) is designed to supply hydraulic fluid to the transfer trolleys and control their operational movements. From the Hydraulic Power Unit the hydraulic power is distributed to the transfer trolleys through lines of hydraulic hoses.
The Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) includes the following components:
- Variable displacement axial-piston pumps driven by aninternal diesel combustion engine;
- Fueltank;
- Hydraulic oiltank;
- Main hydraulic manifold with distribution and control equipment, designed as a monoblock;
- Heatexchanger (cooling unit);
- Automated control system;
- Chassis frame with longitudinal and transverse travel mechanisms;
- Auxiliary devices and components.
HPU control system
The control system is an automated control system (ACS). Regulation, control, and maintenance of set parameters are performed by a programmable logic controller (PLC).
The ACS interface language is English.
The Automated Control System (ACS) provides the following functions:
- Data input and configuration of required STS operating parameters for all modes by the operator via the control panel display;
- Monitoring of all parameters (pressure, temperature, etc.) in all operating modes, with parameter values displayed on the screen;
- Recording of HPU system operating parameters in non-volatile memory;
- Emergency shutdown of the system in case of exceeding the preset STS operating parameters;
- System shutdown in case of hydraulic fluid temperature exceeding the permissible limit;
- Automatic cooling of the hydraulic fluid when the temperature exceeds the set value.
Rotatable and non-rotatable self-propelled ship transfer trolleys (bogies)
The STS can be used as a complete set or can be divided into smaller systems for transferring vessels with lower mass and overall dimensions. The number of trolleys (bogies) in the STS can vary from 4 (2 pairs) to 16 (8 pairs).
The trolleys incorporated in the STS allow for changing the vessel's direction of travel from longitudinal to transverse, facilitated by a 90° swivel unit.
The trolleys are interconnected with each other and with the Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) via rigid inter-trolley connections using high-pressure hoses (HPH).
Ship-carrying trolleys are available in both submersible and non-submersible versions. The use of submersible trolleys is possible in both fresh and seawater.
The number of the slipway trolleys in the system is determined by calculation and depends on the next technical characteristics: weight and size of representative vessels (running load from vessels/submarines) intended for transportation by the STS.
The arrangement of trolleys under the transported objects is related to a number of factors: the weight plot and strong places of the ship’s hull, the size of the transported object, the track of the slipway lines as well as the design of the descent device.
When it necessary to carry out both longitudinal and transversal movement on the slipway field, the STS is being equipped with rotatable trolleys.
The Mobile Hose Carriage
The Mobile Hose Carriage is designed to support and transport the High-Pressure Hoses (HPH) connecting the HPU to the dock trolleys of both trolley lines.
The Mobile Hose Carriage is a steel welded spatial frame made of longitudinal and transverse rectangle steel tubes, mounted on eight swivel solid rubber wheels, allowing the trailer to be moved in both longitudinal and transverse directions.
- Keel beams;
- Loading longitudinal beams;
- Cross-beam rigid links;
- Hydraulic centering devices.
Keel beams
The total loading capacity of the STS generally depends on:
- Loading capacity and the number of the transfer trolleys(bogies) included;
- Capacity and number of hydraulic pump units feeding STS.
At the moment, we are ready to design and supply to the customer an STS with a loading capacity up to 50 000 tons.
Dimensional drawing of a ship transfer system with 30 000 t capacity
The main advantages of modern STS with rotatable trolleys:
- Easy movement of the STS both along and across the ship's keel, without intermediate transfers, which is achieved by using rotating (on 90 degrees) trolleys;
- No need to use an additional transborder with the transborder pit, it allows more efficiently to use the total area of the shipyard. A slipway field with a set of rails used for ships moving can be also available for moving personnel and vehicles;
- Autonomy (a ship train may include a diesel unit which can give the power for electrical and hydraulic units);
- High degree of automation;
- High degree of flexibility;
- Low operating costs;
- Less number of operating personnel;
- Synchronous and controlled lifting of the vessel on the hydraulic cylinders and, as a result, a lower probability of deformation of the vessel's hull;
- High reliability.
The equipment can be optimized to operate in the most extreme weather conditions.
The equipment can be optimized to operate in the most extreme weather conditions
The STS is equipped with the most modern automated control system, the core of which is a controller (PLC).
The programmable logic controller is used to regulate, control and maintain the configured parameters.
Video from Rutube
The basic automated control system allows for the following operating modes of the STS:
- - Static mode;
- - Floating base;
- - Lifting - all zones;
- - Rise - zone 1+2 and zones 3,4;
- - Rise - zones 1,2 and zone 3+4;
- - Lifting one zone;
- - Independent lifting of any one beam;
- - Movement in the "Floating base" mode;
- - Movement in the "Hydraulic spring" mode;
- - Large-block assembly using hydraulic centering devices.
When using STS for large-scale ship assembly, the slipway trolleys (both standard and rotatable) are equipped with hydraulic centering devices. It allows to move the block sections in all directions.
Using STS for large-scale ship assembly. Positioning the unit on 6 axes.
Click on the picture to watch video
The hydraulic system of the main STS actuators consists of six independently controlled contours:
- Four contours of vertical movement of the transported ship or block (contours of hydraulic jack zones);
- Two contours of horizontal movement of the transported ship or block (contours of lines of the hydraulic move)
The hydraulic system of vertical displacement contours allows to move up and down the vessel, as well as to create, eliminate it’s roll and trim.
In order to create a uniform load on each zone of the hydraulic jacks, regardless of the curvature of the track, the hydraulic system of the vertical movement circuits allows any two circuits to be combined into one, thereby achieving three-zone support for the vessel.
The hydraulic system of the horizontal movement circuits allows the vessel to be moved around the shipyard area, as well as to create and eliminate the misalignment of two trolley lines relative to each other when placing trolleys under the cross beams.
The hydraulic system for the main actuators of the STS, as well as the auxiliary equipment, is controlled by automated electrohydraulic controls. The vessel transportation system is controlled from the hydraulic pump station control panel.
Upon special request, it is possible to design, manufacture and supply STS with an electric drive for moving trolleys.
To order our Ship Transfer System, please, fill out Ship Transfer System (STS) Questionnaire