Port facilities are used for loading, unloading, ship fuelling, ballasting or deballasting as well as onshore engineering systems. Handling facilities are divided into continuous and intermittent action equipment. In the first case it is used for bulk cargo transshipment or fluid or gas delivery (hydraulic port facilities). Port facilities of intermittent action are car dumpers and lifting appliances (various cranes).

Development of port transshipment facilities has various directions. First of all, mobile port cranes replacing stationary ones become common use. Then, port facilities become more powerful which is caused by growth of freight volumes. The third trend is application of special-purpose facilities. For example, reach-stackers (loaders designated for containers only) or facilities for processing of palettes and packages.

Out-dated facilities are replaced with new equipment. Besides, Russian plants use new technologies and produce quite competitive port facilities.