ID (KPI identifier)

M

Crane Density (CD)

GRAMMAR

KPI name

M

Crane Density

GRAMMAR

KPI type

M

Operational Performance

GRAMMAR

Berth, Terminal, Port, Vessel, Carrier

O

Quay Crane Density

TIC Description

M

Crane Density (CD) measures the maximum feasible number of quay cranes that can work simultaneously on the vessel’s critical path without interference.

Open

Here, W is the bay window implied by your crane-to-crane spacing rule (i.e., the minimum gap between two working cranes plus the two active bays). See ‘Further Detail’ for how to calculate W.

TIC Description

O

CD shows how much parallel work the stowage allows on the critical path. CD is feasible cranes on the bottleneck slice, not “cranes planned” for the whole ship. Extra cranes working outside the densest slice don’t shorten completion time.

This is not a time-based metric. It is determined from accepted BAPLIE + local crane spacing rules.

Interpreting CD

Higher CD means more cranes can be used in true parallel and shorter handling time, whereas lower CD leads to concentrated work and fewer cranes fit.

Deriving W (Number of Consecutive Bays) from a Spacing Policy

W is the consecutive-bay slice used to compute Crane Density. Most sites use a one-bay buffer, so W = 2. In less common cases with wider cranes (e.g., 32 m gauge), W = 2.5 may apply. A separate note will cover how to compute W based on crane width.

Relation to Crane Time Intensity (CTI)

Refer to KPI 'Crane Time Intensity (CTI)' for more information

• CD = "How many cranes could we use?" → max feasible cranes on the critical path (theoretical potential from stowage and spacing).

• CTI = "On average, how many cranes were working?" → speaks to time deployment.

Relationship to Effective Crane Count (ECC)

Refer to KPI ‘Effective Crane Count’ for more information.

• CD = “How many cranes could we use?” → max feasible cranes on the critical path (theoretical potential from stowage and spacing).

• ECC = “How effectively did we use them?” → actual utilization balance (how evenly cranes shared the work).

• ECC ≈ CD → cranes stayed productively engaged on the critical path; workload well balanced.

• ECC ≪ CD → one crane did most of the critical work (others starved, blocked, or off-path); parallel potential not realized.

Datapoints:

Total vessel moves:

CHE|@|berth|@|cycle|@|#loading#true
CHE|@|berth|@|cycle|@|counter
CHE|@|berth|@|cycle|@|#unloading#true
CHE|@|berth|@|cycle|@|counter

Moves in the densest W consecutive bays (defined in ‘Deriving W from a Spacing Policy’ above):

The data points related to this KPI are being developed within the Yard Inventory Task Force. Updates in this regard will be included in the next release.

TIC Description

M

• Total vessel container moves

• Moves in the busiest W consecutive bays (based on the terminal’s crane spacing rule)

• Local crane geometry / bumper-to-bumper spacing policy

TIC Description

terminal, STS, Berth

Planning quality / critical path

Cranes

O

DynaStow_Crane_Intensity_preprinting.pdf

TIC Description

O

https://tic40.atlassian.net/l/cp/ZpGsxYZa

TIC Description

M

Examples - Determining CD in Different Scenarios

High CD (good stowage spread):

• Bays (moves): 12 bays with ~even work.

  [500,520,480,510,490,505,495,515,505,520,490,470] → Total = 6,000

• Densest 3-bay window: 1540 (e.g., 515+505+520)

• CD: 6,000 / 1,540 = 3.9
  Meaning: Up to ~4 cranes can work in true parallel on the critical path. If you staff 4, this plan supports it.

Medium CD:

• Total: 6,000 moves

• Densest 3-bay window: 2,000

• CD: 6,000 / 2,000 = 3.0
  Meaning: Stowage supports ~3 cranes on the bottleneck slice. Planning more than 3 won’t reduce completion time.

Low CD:

• Bays (moves): heavy concentration in two adjacent bays.

  [..., 1800, 1900, 200, ...] → Total = 6,000

• Densest 3-bay window: 1,800 + 1,900 + 200 = 3,900

• CD: 6,000 / 3,900 = 1.54
  Meaning: Effectively ~1–2 cranes on the critical path. Even if four cranes are on the rail, the bottleneck slice limits parallelism.

Same total, two different stowages:

• Case 1 (spread): densest 3 = 1,500 → CD = 4.0

• Case 2 (bunched): densest 3 = 3,000 → CD = 2.0
  Meaning: Same vessel size, but the spread plan can finish ~twice as fast with the same staffing, because the critical path allows more parallel cranes.

Open

Open

TIC Description

M

See below

TIC Description

M

throughput, quay throughput, berth throughput

Technical

M

2025.017

Technical

M

R0.1

Technical

Created by

Edited by

Review / Approve

Published

TF KPI

@Francisco Blanquer Jaraiz

Review Board

2025.017