Sourcing Ship Deck Cranes from China

Zero duty, with classification by crane design

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8426 covers ships' derricks and cranes, alongside other lifting machinery. The table selects designs relevant to deck installations. It gives classification candidates, so a deck location alone should not determine the declaration.

Every commodity line in the supplied snapshot carries 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure, tariff suspension or attached import control is recorded. This tariff position does not establish that a crane suits the vessel or its lifting operations.

Confirm the commodity code using the crane drawings, support arrangement and operating description. For the wider heading, see mobile harbour cranes. Keep a complete crane distinct from separately supplied hoists, winches and crane parts.

Specify the deck interface and operating envelope

Specify cargo or stores handling, boom arrangement, safe working load at each outreach, lifting height, slew range, stowed dimensions and operating speeds. State whether lifting takes place alongside or at sea. Ask for the operating limits for vessel heel, trim, movement and wind, together with a load chart matching those conditions.

Agree pedestal dimensions, bolt pattern, foundation loads, hydraulic pressure and flow, electrical supply, drainage and corrosion protection. Ask the vessel operator and surveyor to agree the design basis and installation plan before ordering. Maritime guidance says a competent person should carry out all tests and examinations; arrange their involvement before shipping.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: one compact pedestal jib deck crane under 8426 30 00 00, invoiced at £48,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £53,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £53,000, so it is £10,600. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Structure: compare the boom, pedestal and mounting dimensions with the agreed drawings; review material records and weld inspection reports, and inspect coating damage and water traps.

Functions: witness the agreed load and functional tests; check hoisting, slewing, brakes, emergency stops, limit devices and hydraulic leaks against the approved test plan.

Documents: match the serial number, load chart, test records, hydraulic schematic and operating manual to the actual crane and its delivered configuration.

Arrival: inspect lifting points, exposed cylinder rods, hoses and preservation after unpacking; record damage and reconcile loose fittings and spares with the packing list. Use the inspection guide to plan checks.

What goes wrong

A headline lifting capacity can conceal a much lower capacity at the outreach needed to reach the quay. Other problems include a pedestal that misses the deck foundation, inadequate stowage clearance, unsuitable hydraulic connections and coating damage beneath transport supports. Put these interfaces and operating conditions into the purchase specification.

Factory tests can leave installation questions unresolved. Agree who checks the deck foundation, connects the services and coordinates onboard testing and examination. Ask for documents tied to the delivered crane, and use factory verification to assess the maker's fabrication and testing capability.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.