Bulk loader

A bulk loader, or shiploader, is fixed or traveling quay equipment that loads dry bulk such as coal, iron ore, grain, or bauxite into a ship’s holds by conveyor and a slewing, luffing, telescopic loading boom with a trimming chute or spoon at the end. Rail-mounted traveling shiploaders run along the berth on the quay crane rail and feed from a yard conveyor fed by a stacker-reclaimer, reaching nominal rates of 2,000 to 16,000 tonnes per hour depending on the commodity and terminal. The loader positions over each hatch in turn, controls drop height to limit dust and product degradation, and trims the cargo to even the stow. Continuous ship unloaders handle the reverse, import direction.