page_title: Shiplift
section_title: Transfer System
hierarchical_section_title: Shiplift / Transfer System
caption_attribution_description: English: Trolleys (250 tons each) under a ship standing upon the Stralsund shiplift in Germany. Deutsch: 250-Tonnen-Tragwagen unter einem Schiff auf einem Helgen in Stralsund
context_page_description: A shiplift is a modern alternative for a slipway, a floating dry dock or a graving dry dock. A shiplift is used to dry dock and launch ships. It consists of a structural platform that is lifted and lowered exactly vertically, synchronously by a number of hoists. First, the platform is lowered underwater, then the ship is floated above the support, and finally the platform with support and ship is lifted and the ship is brought to the level of the quay.
context_section_description: Many shiplifts use a transfer system for ships so that the vessels can be transported from the water to a parking place where they can be painted or repaired. One shiplift can serve many parking places, while a dry docking installation can only dock one ship.
  For large vessels the transfer system consists of a number of trolleys or cradles, supported by high capacity steel wheels. The wheels drive on heavy duty rails. The transport can be one directional, but in order to serve more parking places, two directional systems are used. These two directional systems make use of a traverser carriage or sometimes the wheels of the trolleys can be turned over 90 degrees. Above the wheels often hydraulic cylinders are located so that the ship can be transported upon a so-called "Fluid Bed". The cylinders are also used to lower the ships on a static support, so that the transfer system with the active elements can be recovered.
  The Bardex Longitudinal and Lateral Transfer System utilizes remote operated hydraulic, self powered Bogies (trolleys) with passive hydraulic suspension systems.  Transfer of 12,000+ ton vessels to and from the Shiplift and across the shipyard is smooth as the suspension compensates for slight elevation changes.  This suspension system also means that the shipyard and shiplift pier ‘civil works’ structural bearing design can be designed with lower peak loads.
caption: Ship on a transfer system on a shiplift
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