Container crane operator
Also known as: dock crane operator, ship crane operator, straddle crane operator, operator of container crane, shipping container crane operator, dockside crane operator
About this occupation
Container crane operators operate electrically powered cranes equipped with cantilevers on which hoisting gear is supported to load or unload container cargo. They move towers in position alongside vessel and lower cantilevers over the deck or hold of a vessel. They lift and move container along the cantilever and position the container on the dock, on the vessel deck or in the hold.
Essential skills and knowledge
- operate railway lever frames
- load cargo onto ships
- maintain crane equipment
- set up crane
- stay alert
- organise weight of loads according to lifting equipment capacity
- inspect crane equipment
- use rigging tools
- assist in the movement of heavy loads
- conduct routine machinery checks
- perform high risk work
- check quality of products on the production line
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Crane and Tower Operators (O*NET 53-7021.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, or turn dials to operate cranes, cherry pickers, electromagnets, or other moving equipment for lifting, moving, or placing loads.
- Inspect crane site conditions to determine ground stability.
- Inspect and adjust crane mechanisms or lifting accessories to prevent malfunctions or damage.
- Direct helpers engaged in placing blocking or outrigging under cranes.
- Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
- Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs, as necessary.
- Typical education (US)
- Post-Secondary Certificate
- Preparation
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension
US median pay: US$68,080 a year (2025), 42,890 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalVery important (3.5)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Post-Secondary Certificate
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Hoist and Winch Operators
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Riggers
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
- Pile Driver Operators
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.