🔍 Key Concepts

• Safe Working Load (SWL) and what it depends on for a ship’s cargo boom or crane • How the position of the boom relative to the ship changes the stresses on the gear • Difference between permanent gear strength (boom/cable) and operating geometry (angle/distance)

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: What factor changes continuously as you swing the load in or out, and therefore needs a table to match position with SWL? • Which of these choices is about the geometry/position of the load rather than just the strength of a single component? • If the hook moves farther away from the ship, what happens to the leverage (bending moment) on the boom, and which term describes that condition?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which option describes the horizontal distance between the boom/crane pivot and the load • Eliminate options that only refer to inherent material strength (boom or cable) rather than operating position • Remember that rating tables for cargo booms typically list SWL against distance/angle of outreach from the mast or kingpost