The offshore handling of dry bulk cargo ranges from simple floating cranes to floating transfer stations with large offshore storage. Cranes are placed on one or more pontoons and connected to a cargo handling system consisting of hoppers, conveyors, and ship loaders (see left picture). The ship loaders have a large outreach and sufficient air draft to be able to deliver cargo on ballast in the holds of a large vessel. In some cases, the transshipment equipment is placed on a ship that is anchored next to other dry bulk carriers (see right picture).