Alimak FM Marine Cargo Elevator
Heavy Cargo Between Decks, Built for Life at Sea.
Moving provisions, spare parts and equipment between the deck and below-deck storage is one of the most labor-intensive jobs on board. The Alimak FM automates it: a rack and pinion cargo elevator designed to be installed inside a vessel's vertical cargo shaft, carrying up to 12,000 kg per trip — including standard shipping containers up to 4 m long.
Designed for Offshore and Marine Duty
Conventional freight lifts are not made for salt spray, vessel motion or classification-society inspections. The FM range is.
Every elevator in the FM range is DNV certified for offshore work. The support frame and guide rails are hot-dip galvanised steel, the electrical cabinets and landing control boxes are stainless steel, and the unit receives a marine surface treatment. Where explosive atmospheres are present, the FM-Ex version is additionally protection-rated to ATEX or NEC.
Why Vessel Operators Choose the FM
1. No Machine Room Needed
The drive is mounted on the elevator itself, with the variable frequency drive (VFD) located below the platform deck. There is no separate machine room to build into the vessel — valuable space stays available for cargo.
2. Crane Loading at the Top, Forklift Unloading Below
The top deck is flush with no car enclosure, so cargo can be loaded straight onto the platform by crane. A watertight hatch door seals the top deck. On the lower decks, cargo is offloaded by forklift through side doors, with multiple unloading sides available.
3. Sized for Real Cargo
Platforms range from 3.35–3.58 m wide by 3.38–4.54 m long — large enough for containers up to 4 m long — with payloads from 5,000 to 12,000 kg and static loads up to 15,000 kg.
4. Safety Below Deck
A0 or A60 fire-rated landing doors are available for the lower decks, and a fully collective control system keeps operation simple and safe for the crew.
Technical Specifications (Alimak FM Range)
Every vessel is different. Bridge360 will review your cargo flows and shaft dimensions with Alimak to define the right configuration.
- Payload Capacity: 5,000 kg to 12,000 kg (static load up to 15,000 kg)
- Speed: Up to 0.25 m/s
- Lifting Height: Standard options up to 15 m; higher on request
- Platform Size (W x L): 3.35–3.58 m x 3.38–4.54 m (fits containers up to 4 m long)
- Drive: Rack and pinion, VFD below the platform deck — no machine room
- Materials: Hot-dip galvanised frame and guide rails, stainless steel electrical cabinets, marine surface treatment
- Certification: DNV certified for offshore use; EN 12158. FM-Ex version rated to ATEX or NEC
(Note: Need to move personnel rather than cargo? Explore the Alimak SE and Alimak SL industrial elevators.)
Where the Alimak FM Fits Best
The FM is built for marine and offshore operations that need to move heavy cargo between decks safely:
Offshore Support Vessels
Automated handling of provisions and spare parts between the main deck and below-deck storage.
Offshore Platforms and FPSOs
Heavy cargo transfer in environments where DNV certification and corrosion resistance are mandatory.
Ports and Shipyards
New-build and retrofit projects that need a compact, shaft-mounted cargo solution.
Hazardous Areas
Oil & gas installations where the explosion-protected FM-Ex is required.
Your Alimak Partner in the Caribbean
Bridge360 is the authorized Alimak distributor for the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas and the non-US Caribbean islands.
Bridge360 provides the support your project needs:
Project Assessment
We review your vessel or installation with Alimak's engineering team to confirm shaft dimensions, payload and certification requirements.
Installation and Commissioning
Our certified technicians coordinate installation and commissioning to Alimak standards.
Service and Maintenance
Preventive and corrective maintenance, inspections and spare parts support for your Alimak equipment.
Automate Your Cargo Handling
Stop moving heavy cargo between decks by hand. Talk to Bridge360 about the right Alimak FM configuration for your vessel or installation.