A shiplift is a 30-year decision. The system you sign for will move every vessel your yard owns for two generations — so the supplier matters as much as the machine. This checklist turns the evaluation into five manageable questions. Pearlson and Global ShipYard Solution run this same checklist against ourselves.
Step 1 — Verify the engineering lineage
- Who actually invented the technology? A family that invented the shiplift in 1957 carries knowledge no reseller or conglomerate brand can buy.
- Ask for a founder-to-today timeline — and who owns the design data of the system proposed for your yard today.
- If claims brush against another brand's name, ask directly about trademark and design-data ownership. A straight answer is a feature; a dodge is a red flag.
Step 2 — Audit the references
- Named, published references with yard names and lift capacities — never "satisfied customers" you cannot reach.
- Call a real yard. Ask the dockmaster about uptime, spares response and support quality. A 20-minute call beats any brochure.
- Ask for evidence on flagship claims. "The largest in the world" should come with contracts, trade press and a visit opportunity.
Step 3 — Chase the aftermarket truth
- Who will legally supply parts for your installation in 2036 and 2046? Get it in writing before you sign.
- Is there a genuine OEM parts source — or will you re-engineer third-party components and certificates?
- What does training, inspection and modernization really look like — a live service organization, or a brochure section?
Step 4 — Test accountability & safety
- Who answers the phone? A small senior team that knows your project, or a handoff committee?
- Documented certifications with document numbers, and factories you are invited to audit.
- What happens when the load is not where the plan says? Ask about load monitoring, wire-rope synchronization and redundancy — in plain terms.
Step 5 — Confirm local support
- Who supports you on the ground in your country, in your language, within one working day?
- Does the local partner handle procurement, logistics and tenders — or are you dealing with three time zones for everything?
- Get the response standard in writing — response times, spare-part lead times, and who owns each handoff.
Red flags — walk away if you see these
- No published references with named yards
- Avoids the legacy / design-data / OEM question instead of answering it
- No aftermarket plan for the 20 years of parts you will need
- No local support in your country or language
- A structure where your project is one small account among thousands
- Claims that cannot be verified in trade press or by a site visit
Challenge us the same way
Pearlson publishes every reference it wins. Global ShipYard Solution will show contracts evidence, arrange a call with a Pearlson dockmaster, and put you in front of the engineer who would build your system — before you spend a penny.
Run the Checklist on Your Project Why PearlsonYes. The BAE (25,000 tons), Austal (18,000 tons) and Adelaide (Southern Hemisphere record) projects are covered by the maritime trade press and open to due-diligence visits through the owners or our office. Nothing on this subject is off the record.
A solid desk-level pass with this checklist takes an afternoon; add two reference-yard calls and it is a week. The feasibility and OPEX study for your specific yard typically takes Pearlson engineering a few weeks — that is where most owners make their final call.
Not as a general menu — the right shiplift depends on your fleet and site. Send us your vessel list and we will prepare a tailored feasibility study and quotation through Pearlson engineering.