22 Aug 2025
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SHACKLE FOR LIFTING OPERATIONS
Choosing the correct shackle for your lifting application isn’t just a matter of preference — it’s a critical safety decision. From material and pin type to load direction and environment, several factors must be considered to ensure the right lifting shackle is used for the job.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know to make the right choice, drawing on industry expertise and practical insights gathered from years of supplying top brands like Crosby, Green Pin, Blue Pin, and William Hackett.
👉 If you're still familiarising yourself with the different types available, start with our complete guide to lifting shackle types and their industrial applications to get up to speed on bow shackles, D shackles, and specialist options.
The humble shackle may seem like a simple component, but it carries the full burden of your operation — literally.
Why Shackle Selection Matters
Selecting the right lifting shackle isn’t a checkbox task — it’s a critical decision that impacts every part of the lift, from safety and compliance to efficiency and equipment longevity. The humble shackle may seem like a simple component, but it carries the full burden of your operation — literally.
At LES - Lifting Equipment Store, we’ve seen the costly consequences of poor shackle selection far too often. Whether it's a bow shackle used inappropriately in a straight-line lift, or a screw pin chosen for a long-term offshore application where vibration caused it to work loose, the result is the same: risk, downtime, and potentially dangerous failure.
“It’s not just about grabbing something off the shelf that ‘looks right’,” a lifting engineer from a top-tier construction firm told me recently. “If you're side-loading with the wrong shape or underestimating the load angle, that shackle becomes your weakest point. And it’s usually the last thing people think about.”
Understanding how a shackle interacts with your equipment, load, and environment is fundamental. If you're lifting in a high-moisture setting, material corrosion could halve the life of a poorly chosen shackle. If you're operating in a multi-leg sling configuration, using a D shackle where a bow shackle is needed may cause side-loading stress, which D shackles aren’t designed to handle.
This is why standards like BS EN 13889 and ASME B30.26 exist — to create clear, tested boundaries for how shackles perform. But the onus is still on the end-user to match the right product to the right application. Certification means nothing if the component is misapplied.
💡 Pro Tip: Always factor in the lifting angle. A load lifted at a 45° angle can dramatically increase the force on the shackle legs. What looks like a safe WLL on paper may be exceeded under real-world conditions. Use angle calculators and refer to manufacturer load reduction charts before making your final decision.
When you purchase shackles from us, you're not just buying hardware — you’re tapping into years of technical knowledge, real-world experience, and brand-certified advice. We’ve worked alongside rigging professionals, offshore engineers, site supervisors, and lifting inspectors to understand exactly what makes a shackle fit for purpose — and what doesn’t.
This is why professionals across construction, logistics, offshore, and infrastructure projects trust us not just as a supplier, but as a technical partner in their lifting operations.
Understand the Load: Direction, Weight & Movement
Load Type: Start by identifying how the load will be applied:
- Straight-line pulls work best with D shackles.
- Angular or multi-directional loading calls for bow shackles, which provide more flexibility.
Weight & Working Load Limit (WLL): Always select a shackle that has a WLL higher than your actual load. Factor in any dynamic loads, shock loading, or side pulling.
Movement
- If the load will shift during lifting, a bow shackle provides more accommodation.
- For fixed-position lifting, D shackles ensure a direct, tight connection.
Choose the Right Shackle Type
Bow Shackles
- Wide internal clearance
- Ideal for use with multi-leg slings or when angular loading is unavoidable
- Common in construction, rigging frames, and offshore lifting
Dee Shackles (D Shackles)
- Narrow profile for straight-line lifts
- Compact and strong
- Best suited to machinery lifting or confined spaces
Specialist Shackles
- Includes galvanised, stainless steel, and high-tensile alloy shackles
- Designed for extreme or specific environments (e.g., marine, high temp, corrosive conditions)
Select the Correct Pin Type
Selecting the correct pin type is just as important as choosing the right shackle body. The pin not only secures the connection but also determines how well the shackle performs under load, movement, and environmental stress.
Different pin types offer varying levels of security, ease of use, and resistance to vibration. Whether you're handling a quick lift or a long-term offshore application, using the wrong pin can lead to loosening, failure, or non-compliance with safety standards.
The decision tree to the right is designed to help you quickly identify the most suitable option for your lift. You’ll also find a table below that compares each pin type’s strengths and limitations—making it easy to choose confidently and correctly every time.
To ensure maximum safety and performance, it's essential to match the pin type to the specific demands of your lifting operation. For example, a screw pin might be perfect for quick, temporary lifts but poses a risk in high-vibration environments where it can gradually loosen.
On the other hand, bolt-type pins with cotter pins offer enhanced security for long-term or static applications, such as structural lifting or permanent rigging setups. For environments like offshore or marine operations, where pin loss or corrosion could be catastrophic, a safety pin or captive pin is often the only safe option.
Choosing correctly also ensures compliance with industry standards like BS EN 13889 and ASME B30.26. Use the decision tree and comparison table to guide your selection.
| Pin Type | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Screw Pin | Temporary or repetitive applications | Easy to install/remove, but may loosen with vibration |
| Bolt-Type Pin | Permanent or long-term applications | Secured with nut and cotter pin—less prone to loosening |
| Safety/Captive Pin | Critical applications, offshore, marine | Pin stays attached to the body—ideal when pin loss would be dangerous |
Material Matters: Match the Environment
Choosing the right material ensures long-term reliability:
- Galvanised Steel Shackles: Corrosion-resistant and economical; suitable for construction and general rigging.
- Stainless Steel Shackles: Best for marine, food-grade, or chemical environments due to superior corrosion resistance.
- Alloy/High-Tensile Steel: Extremely strong and durable under dynamic loads; used in mining, offshore rigs, and crane ops.
Factor in Compliance & Certification
Reputable shackles from trusted brands come with batch numbers, CE markings, and manufacturer WLL ratings. Look for:
- Stamped WLL and identification marks
- Test certificates or conformity documents
- Standards compliance (BS, ASME, DNV, etc.)
🡺 All shackles sold through our site meet or exceed these requirements, with certificates available on request
Application-Specific Recommendations
| Industry | Recommended Shackle |
|---|---|
| Construction | Alloy D shackles with screw pins for repetitive lifting |
| Offshore & Marine | Stainless bow shackles with safety pins to resist corrosion |
| Utilities & Telecom | Small galvanised D shackles for pole or tower lifting |
| Warehousing & Logistics | Screw pin bow shackles for adjustable or multi-leg lifting |
🡺 Still unsure? Reach out to our team for a tailored recommendation.
Quick Checklist: Are You Choosing the Right Shackle?
✅ Does the shackle's WLL exceed the applied load?
✅ Is the correct shape chosen for the load direction?
✅ Is the pin type suitable for the job duration?
✅ Is the material appropriate for the environment?
✅ Is the shackle from a trusted, certified brand?
🌊 Offshore Use Case: Preventing Pin Failure in Harsh Marine Conditions
During a scheduled maintenance lift on a North Sea oil platform, a subcontractor was preparing to hoist a series of pump skids from a support vessel onto the rig. The original spec called for screw pin bow shackles—a common choice for fast, temporary rigging tasks.
However, during a pre-lift review, the platform's lifting authority flagged concerns about vibration during transfer, potential pin loosening, and the corrosive nature of the marine environment.
The contractor reached out to our technical support team for a second opinion.“We’ve worked offshore for years, but this job had too many moving parts,” the rigging supervisor explained. “Your team not only flagged the pin risk, but also walked us through the DNV requirements. That level of detail gave us real confidence.”
We recommended replacing the screw pin shackles with:
- Stainless steel bow shackles for corrosion resistance
- Bolt-type safety pins with cotters to withstand constant movement
- Full DNV GL certification to meet offshore compliance standards
This switch:
- Eliminated the risk of pin back-out due to vessel and load vibration
- Provided traceable certification for compliance auditing
- Extended shackle service life in salt-heavy conditions
💡 Pro Tip: Never use screw pin shackles for long-term or dynamic offshore applications. Vibration, wave motion, or wind sway can work the pin loose over time. Always use bolt-type safety pins—and opt for stainless steel where corrosion is a factor.
Never use screw pin shackles for long-term or dynamic offshore applications
Final Thoughts
The right shackle ensures more than just a secure lift—it protects your people, equipment, and reputation. At LES, we stock a full range of bow, D, and specialist shackles from leading manufacturers, with expert support available every step of the way.
🡺 Ready to choose the right shackle? Browse our full Lifting Shackles Collection or speak to our technical team for advice tailored to your operation.
💡 Coming Soon: Dive deeper into safe rigging practices in our next article - Shackle Safety: Avoiding Common Mistakes
