The images to the left show one particular example of a real offshore crane, similar to the model. The crane is aboard Technip-Coflexip's pipelay vessel, CSO Deep Blue.

The crane is mounted near the stern of the vessel, on the port side. Typically a fixed crane on a vessel like this has a long enough boom to reach nearly every point on the vessel, so that lifting services can be rendered where needed. On offshore construction/installation vessels, such cranes are in use almost constantly, performing all sorts of lifts.

However, on the Deep Blue, the main crane covers only part of the vessel. Therefore smaller hydralic pedestal cranes are used to capture the other areas.

I've created a separate page about the largest marine pedestal mounted cranes. Read more...