Ship loader or Shiploader is designed as one of the port material handling equipments that is used for loading different sizes of vessels berthing at ports continuously with coal, iron ore, cement, grain and other bulk materials. Normally belt conveyors are used in ship loading equipments in a continuous action to move bulk material product from dock conveyors onto the vessels.

A radial ship loader incorporates a pivot point at the dock side end which allows the ship loader to access the full length of the ship. The lower part of the ship loader is fixed in a bridge section. The upper structure travels on the bridge section allowing the boom to extend to provide coverage of the different areas of the ship’s hold.

The quadrant-type radial type shiploader features a fix bridge-type structure that pivots around a kingpin-type support, while the seaward side is supported on a series of bogies that travel along a circular rail. A telescoping boom traverses the top of the main structure, complete with telescoping loading chute and spoon. The extent of travel of the telescoping boom depends on the angle of rotation of the main structure to ensure access to each hold of the ship. By pivoting at the tail end, the shiploader is afforded access to the entire length of the ship. Rather than incorporating a shuttle conveyor, the entire upper structure travels on the fixed lower bridge section of the shiploader. The combination of bridge rotation and boom travel allows the operator to access all areas of the ship's hold.