Presented to the Hampton Roads Section on March 9, 1977. In the past ten years, technological advances in the design and performance of shipyard cranes have noticeably altered methods of steel ship construction throughout the world. These advances, when coupled with innovations made in the use of cranes in support of shipbuilding activities, have greatly influenced the design of the world's newest shipyard. A prime example is the new commercial yard at Newport News Shipbuilding which houses twenty-seven new and unique cranes, each responsible for a specific task in support of the shipbuilding effort. This paper will examine closely the innovative features employed on the Newport News cranes, explaining why and how they will affect ship design and construction at the yard and how they will help improve the new facility's productivity.