A transtainer is a large gantry crane used at ports, container yards, and intermodal terminals to lift, move, and stack shipping containers. It is commonly known as a rubber-tyred gantry crane, or RTG, when it moves on rubber tyres. Transtainers help transfer containers between yard stacks, trucks, railcars, and terminal handling areas. They are essential for container yard efficiency because they allow terminals to organise high volumes of cargo in limited space. RTG cranes straddle multiple container rows and can stack containers four to five high.
- Operated by the terminal or port authority
- Moves containers from the vessel discharge point to storage rows in the yard
- Enables high-density container stacking to maximize terminal capacity
- Electrified RTGs are increasingly replacing diesel-powered cranes for environmental compliance
Learn more about Dedola’s ocean freight shipping services. Related terms: Gating In, Port Filings, Chassis.
