Abstract: A system is disclosed for transporting a lighter 136 from a floating position adjacent the stern 130 of ship 101 to a storage position in the cargo hold 138 of said ship, and for transporting lighter 136 from said storage position to said floating position. The system includes crane 102 which is adapted for fore and aft travel along spaced rails 104 and 106 which extend longitudinally along opposite sides of ship 101 and for hoisting lighter 136, and load frame 172 which is suspended by crane 102 and adapted for attachment to lighter 136. Vertically extendable and retractable load frame guide members 108, 110, 112 and 114 depend from crane 102. Removable aft guide members 118 and 120 are mountable on cantilevered beams 122 and 124. Removable fore guide members 126 and 128 are mountable on stern 130. Guide members 118 and 120 are adapted for being positioned below and coaxially aligned with guide members 108 and 110.

Abstract: A horizontally extendable trolley 22 comprising a trolley frame 51 and wheels 52 for supporting trolley frame 51, and a horizontally elongated trailer frame 54 slidably mounted on frame 51, said trailer frame 54 having a first end extending beyond an end of frame 51, and auxiliary wheels 56 for supporting said first end. Trolley 22 includes: means for horizontally extending trailer frame 54 outwardly from the trolley frame 51 and retracting trailer frame 54 inwardly toward trolley frame 51; hoisting means mounted on trolley frame 51; auxiliary hoisting means mounted on trailer frame 54; and means for driving wheels 52. Crane 10 for use with trolley 22 and methods for the use of cranes employing trolley 22 in steel making operations are disclosed.

Abstract: A two-way horizontally extendable trolley 22 comprising a trolley frame 51 and wheels 52 for supporting trolley frame 51, a first horizontally elongated trailer frame 54 slidably mounted on frame 51, and a second horizontally elongated trailer frame 55 slidably mounted on trolley frame 51, said trailer frames 54 and 55 each having a first end extending beyond an end of frame 51, and auxiliary wheels 56 and 57, respectively, for supporting said first ends. Trolley 22 includes: means for horizontally extending trailer frames 54 and 55 outwardly from the trolley frame 51 and retracting trailer frames 54 and 55 inwardly toward trolley frame 51; hoisting means mounted on trolley frame 51; auxiliary hoisting means mounted on trailer frames 54 and 55; and means for driving wheels 52. Crane 10 for use with trolley 22 is also disclosed.