Straddle Carrier Boat Handling

Straddle Carriers for Shipyards and Marinas: Safe Boat Haul-Out, Transport and Launching

Moving a vessel out of the water, across the yard and into a storage or repair position is one of the most demanding operations in any shipyard or marina. The load is heavy, valuable and awkwardly shaped, and every meter of travel carries risk. FADA engineers custom straddle carriers and boat transport systems that lift, carry and place vessels safely, precisely and without the fixed infrastructure that traditional methods require.

Why Boat Handling Needs Purpose-Built Equipment

Cranes, slipways and trailers each solve only part of the problem, and often introduce their own constraints. Shipyard and marina operators repeatedly face the same challenges:

• Heavy, high-value hulls where a single mishandling event is costly and hard to recover from.

• Irregular hull shapes that require adjustable, well-distributed support rather than fixed points.

• Mixed surfaces — from quayside to yard to workshop — that a single vehicle must cross seamlessly.

• Tight storage layouts where precise, low-speed maneuvering decides how many vessels fit.

• Frequent haul-out and launch cycles that demand a repeatable, safe and fast routine.

What a FADA Straddle Carrier Does

A straddle carrier lifts the vessel from below, carries it while straddling the load, and lowers it exactly where needed — combining lifting and transport in a single, self-propelled machine. Each unit is configured around the vessels, yard layout and workflow of the specific operator:

• Lifting capacity engineered to the vessel weight, with a safe operating margin.

• Adjustable slings and support geometry that adapt to different hull shapes.

• Fully electric drive for smooth acceleration, fine speed control and precise placement.

• Compact, maneuverable chassis for dense storage and confined yard areas.

• Seamless travel across quayside, paved yard and workshop surfaces.

• Combined haul-out, transport and launching in one continuous, controlled operation.

Proven in the Field: A 50-Ton Straddle Carrier Delivery

FADA designed, built and commissioned a 50-ton straddle carrier for port and heavy-logistics handling. The unit combines lifting and transport in a single operation, removing the need for a separate crane-and-trailer sequence and reducing both handling steps and risk. It is a working example of how a purpose-built machine turns a complex marine move into a routine, repeatable process.

Electric by Design — Cleaner Quaysides, Lower Costs

Marinas and shipyards operate close to the water and, increasingly, under environmental scrutiny. Compared with diesel equivalents, FADA electric vehicles deliver 74–83% lower CO₂ emissions, 3–4× better energy efficiency and 9–15 dB less noise, saving roughly 8–13 tons of CO₂ per vehicle each year. For operators near sensitive coastal environments, that is a cleaner site and a lower operating cost at once.

Configure It to Your Operation

Beyond the straddle carrier, FADA builds a full family of shipyard transport and lifting solutions — including self-propelled boat transporters and heavy shipyard transfer systems — tailored with the control and monitoring options your workflow needs:

• Control: remote control, line following, or natural (AI autonomous) navigation.

• Options: IoT monitoring, HMI, wireless charging, fast battery swap, load weighing and remote service.

Certified, Export-Ready and Globally Supported

Every FADA vehicle is built to international standards and backed by certifications that matter to procurement and safety teams, including CE, TÜV NORD, TÜV Austria, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, UL, EAC and SGS. With deliveries across 20+ countries and a matching service network, FADA provides spare parts, technical service, remote support and operator training long after commissioning.

Why FADA for Shipyard and Marina Handling

With 15+ years of engineering, 700+ completed projects and 220+ clients across 25+ sectors, FADA designs marine handling solutions as complete systems — not off-the-shelf frames. From first specification to lifetime support, FADA is a holistic solution partner for shipyard and marina transportation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a straddle carrier and a crane for boat handling?

A crane only lifts; a straddle carrier lifts and transports the vessel in one self-propelled operation, removing the need for a separate transport step and reducing handling risk.

What vessel weights can a FADA straddle carrier handle?

Capacity is engineered to the operator's vessels, with the lifting system and support geometry designed around the specific hull weights and shapes.

Can one machine both haul out and launch vessels?

Yes. A straddle carrier combines haul-out, transport and launching in a single continuous, controlled operation.

Is electric drive suitable for a marine environment?

Yes. Electric drive is quieter and emission-free, which suits sensitive coastal sites, while also lowering energy and maintenance costs compared with diesel.

Do you deliver and support internationally?

Yes. FADA delivers to 20+ countries and provides spare parts, technical service, remote support and training through its international service network.

Request a Custom Boat Handling Solution

Share your vessel range, yard layout and haul-out workflow, and FADA's engineers will propose a straddle carrier or boat transport system tailored to your operation. Contact info@fadaglobal.com to start your specification.