25 Jul 2025

TYPES OF SHACKLES & THEIR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

In industrial lifting operations, few components are as critical — or as frequently underestimated — as shackles. These compact, high-strength connectors form the vital interface between lifting equipment and the load, ensuring secure, load-bearing connections in some of the most demanding environments.

From offshore platforms to heavy construction and logistics, shackles are engineered to deliver uncompromising performance under extreme stress. But selecting the right shackle is not a formality — it’s a fundamental decision that directly impacts structural integrity, safety compliance, and operational efficiency.

Not all shackles are created equal. Bow shackles, D-shackles, and specialty variants each have distinct mechanical properties, load-bearing capabilities, and application-specific advantages. Misapplication isn’t just inefficient — it introduces risk.

This guide is designed to cut through the noise. We’ll break down the different types of lifting shackles, their material specifications, use cases, and regulatory considerations — equipping you with the insight needed to make informed, safety-first decisions in any lifting operation.

What Are Shackles?

Shackles are U-shaped load-bearing connectors used in rigging systems. They allow for the secure attachment of slings, chains, ropes, and other lifting apparatus. Their design typically includes a pin or bolt that closes the loop, offering both flexibility and security during lifting or towing.

In industrial applications, the choice of shackle isn’t just about shape — it’s about the right combination of size, material, pin type, and load capacity. Selecting the right shackle is essential for maintaining compliance, preventing failure, and ensuring operational safety.

Understanding the differences between these shackle types is crucial to choosing the right component for safe and efficient lifting operations

Types of Lifting Shackles

Lifting shackles come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials—each designed for specific load types, lifting angles, and environmental conditions. Understanding the differences between these shackle types is crucial to choosing the right component for safe and efficient lifting operations. Below, we break down the most commonly used shackles and their key applications.

1. Bow Shackles

One of the most commonly used types in the industry, bow shackles (sometimes referred to as anchor shackles) have a larger rounded "bow" shape, which offers a greater working range. This design allows multiple slings or attachment points to be connected at once, reducing stress on the shackle body.

Key Advantages:

Accommodates multi-leg slings
Excellent for angular or side loading
Ideal in offshore, construction, and heavy rigging

Best Applications:

Mooring and towing
Offshore oil and gas rigs
Heavy equipment lifting

We recommend premium bow shackles from trusted brands like Crosby, Green Pin, and William Hackett—each known for their commitment to safety and certified load ratings.

🡺 Explore our Bow Shackles collection for more details.

2. Dee Shackles (D Shackles)

Dee shackles, also known as ‘D’ shackles, have a narrower profile compared to bow shackles. Their shape resembles the letter ‘D’, providing a straight-line pull that minimises movement during lifting.

Key Advantages:

Compact design for tight spaces
Best for single attachment points
Higher strength-to-size ratio than bow shackles

Best Applications:

Single-leg lifting slings
Lifting and securing machinery
Load distribution in confined environments

Due to their shape, d shackles are less suited to side loads, which could cause twisting or pin deformation. However, in linear lifting applications, they shine.

🡺 Browse our D Shackles selection for more insights.

3. Specialist Shackles

Specialist shackles encompass a range of high-performance solutions tailored for specific industries or environments. These include:

Stainless steel shackles: Excellent for corrosive environments, marine settings, and food-grade applications.
Galvanised steel shackles: Provide strong resistance to rust, ideal for outdoor and industrial settings.
High-tensile alloy shackles: Designed for heavy-duty applications with higher load ratings.

Specialist shackles are also available with unique pin types like:

Bolt-type pins for secure load retention
Safety pins for long-term applications
Screw pins for ease of use in temporary lifting

🡺 Check out our range of Specialist Shackles including stainless and galvanised options.

Brands like Blue Pin, Green Pin, Crosby, and William Hackett offer specialist shackles engineered for maximum performance, durability, and industry compliance.

Choosing the Right Pin Type

Pin selection is just as critical as the body of the shackle itself. Depending on your application—whether it’s temporary rigging, long-term fixed lifting, or recurring operations—you'll need to select the correct pin type:

Screw Pin

Quick install and removal
Best for temporary or repetitive use
Easy to inspect, but prone to loosening under vibration

Bolt-Type Pin with Cotter

Secure and vibration-resistant
Suitable for permanent or long-term lifting
Slightly more time-consuming to install

Safety Pin or Captive Pin

Anti-loss design
Used in offshore or marine lifting where accidental pin loss would be disastrous

Material Considerations in Lifting Shackles

Different working environments place different demands on the material makeup of shackles. Here’s how common materials compare:

1. Galvanised Steel Shackles

Benefits: Corrosion resistance, cost-effective, rugged
Best for: Outdoor use, construction, utility lifting, marine ports

Note: Galvanisation is a zinc coating applied to prevent rust, ideal for temporary outdoor setups or harsh-weather environments.

2. Stainless Steel Shackles

Benefits: High resistance to corrosion, especially saltwater and chemicals
Best for: Marine, food-grade, pharmaceutical, and corrosive industrial environments

Note: Often chosen where hygiene and long-term corrosion resistance are priorities. Costlier but longer-lasting in aggressive environments.

3. Alloy Steel and High-Tensile Shackles

Benefits: Extremely strong, durable under heavy dynamic loads
Best for: Mining, offshore oil & gas, crane operations

Note: Alloy shackles typically meet rigorous testing standards and provide higher working load limits (WLL).

🡺 Learn more in our Specialist Shackles section where you can filter by material and load capacity.

your rigging hardware is only as strong as its weakest link—and that link is often the shackle

Benefits of Using the Right Shackle

Using properly rated and appropriate shackles results in:

Enhanced Safety: Reduces risk of failure or injury
Improved Efficiency: Minimises downtime and complications
Extended Equipment Lifespan: Prevents unnecessary wear
Regulatory Compliance: Meets industry standards like BS EN 13889 and ASME B30.26

In high-stakes environments, your rigging hardware is only as strong as its weakest link—and that link is often the shackle. Partnering with reliable brands like Crosby, Green Pin, Blue Pin, and William Hackett ensures that quality is never compromised.

Common Industrial Applications for Lifting Shackles

Thanks to their strength, reliability, and versatility, lifting shackles are used across a wide range of industries. Whether in heavy construction or precision lifting environments, shackles provide the essential link between lifting equipment and the load. Below, we break down how different sectors rely on specific types of shackles—and why choosing the right one matters.

Construction & Infrastructure

In the construction sector, shackles are indispensable for tasks like lifting steel beams, precast concrete panels, and heavy machinery. Alloy D shackles are particularly popular due to their high load-bearing capacity and compact design. They’re often used in conjunction with synthetic slings and beam clamps, where straight-line lifting is required.

Construction sites also demand gear that’s quick to inspect and replace, which makes screw pin dee shackles a common go-to. Their simplicity and strength make them well-suited to repetitive, heavy-duty applications where safety and speed matter.

Marine & Offshore

In the harsh, corrosive environments of offshore platforms and marine vessels, only the most robust and corrosion-resistant shackles will do. Here, stainless steel or galvanised bow shackles with bolt-type safety pins are industry standards for mooring, anchoring, and subsea lifting.

These shackles are specifically chosen to resist saltwater corrosion and meet stringent classification body approvals such as DNV, OCIMF, and IMO standards. Their rounded bow shape also allows for side loading—ideal when towing or handling equipment from irregular angles.

Utilities & Telecommunications

In powerline and telecom infrastructure, lifting equipment needs to be lightweight, durable, and easy to handle at height. Smaller galvanised D shackles are often used to lift poles, transformer units, and structural supports. These shackles offer a straight, efficient pull and enough strength to handle repetitive vertical lifting—especially important when using winches or pulley systems in elevated work zones.

Because utility work often involves exposure to the elements, galvanised coatings help extend service life without compromising load capacity.

Warehousing & Logistics

In fast-moving logistics environments, flexibility is key. Screw pin bow shackles are a common solution for attaching to crane hooks, spreader beams, or lifting frames. Their wide bow design accommodates multiple slings or straps at once, making them ideal for handling irregular or shifting loads like palletised machinery or large, awkward freight.

Since warehousing operations often require frequent assembly and disassembly of lifting gear, ease of use and reusability make screw pin shackles especially valuable in this setting.

Each sector brings its own set of challenges, but with the right shackle type — whether it's bow, D, or a specialist stainless variant — you can ensure safe, efficient lifting every time.

🡺 Need help finding the right type for your industry? Explore our Lifting Shackles Collection or speak with our expert team.

Standards, Ratings and Compliance

When sourcing shackles for industrial use, it's vital to ensure that they meet recognised international safety and performance standards. Common standards include:

BS EN 13889 – European standard for forged steel shackles with screw pin and bolt types
ASME B30.26 – Covers shackle identification, inspection, and performance for lifting equipment in North America
DNV GL and ABS approvals – Required for offshore and maritime lifting operations

Trusted brands like Crosby, Green Pin, Blue Pin, and William Hackett provide shackles that are proof-load tested, batch-certified, and meet (or exceed) all major safety standards.

Lifecycle, Inspection, and Maintenance

Routine inspection and correct use are essential to maintain the integrity of lifting shackles. Here’s what to keep in mind:

Inspection Checklist:

Ensure the shackle is free of deformation, cracks or wear
Confirm the pin fits correctly and threads are not stripped
Check for corrosion or pitting, especially on galvanised shackles
Verify legibility of markings including WLL (Working Load Limit)

When to Retire a Shackle:

If distortion exceeds 10% of the original dimensions
If WLL marking becomes illegible
Evidence of cracking under magnetic particle inspection (MPI)

Shackles used in offshore lifting, crane operations, or critical path lifts should undergo regular NDT (Non-Destructive Testing), and remain in rotation logs for full traceability.

Each sector brings its own set of challenges, but with the right shackle type — whether it's bow, D, or a specialist stainless variant — you can ensure safe, efficient lifting every time.

Closing Thoughts: Your Trusted Lifting Shackles Partner

Choosing the correct lifting shackle — whether it's a bow shackle, dee shackle, or a specialist stainless steel variant — isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes. It’s about protecting your team, your assets, and your bottom line.

At LES -Lifting Equipment Store, we stock only fully certified, industry-grade shackles from trusted names like Crosby, William Hackett, Blue Pin, and Green Pin. We also understand that you may need more than just a part number — so our expert team is always ready to help you interpret load charts, select the right configuration, or meet custom requirements.

🡺 Ready to elevate your lifting setup? Browse our full Lifting Shackles Collection or get in touch and let us help guide your next project.

WHAT’S NEXT

This article is part of an ongoing series designed to help lifting professionals make informed choices when it comes to rigging hardware, particularly lifting shackles. Keep an eye out for our upcoming guides (content samples below): ‘How to Choose the Right Shackle for Lifting Operations’ and ‘Shackle Safety: Avoiding Common Mistakes’, where we’ll dive deeper into selection tips and essential safety practices.

🔧 How to Choose the Right Shackle for Lifting Operations

Not all shackles are created equa l— and using the wrong type can compromise both safety and efficiency. In this upcoming guide, we’ll walk you through the key factors to consider when selecting a lifting shackle, including load type, angle of lift, material selection, and pin configuration. Whether you're new to rigging or refining your setup, this article will help ensure you're always using the right tool for the job.

⚠️ Shackle Safety: Avoiding Common Mistakes

Even the best lifting equipment can fail if it’s misused. This guide will highlight the most common mistakes seen in industrial shackle use — from improper loading and material mismatches to missed inspections and worn pins. Learn how to identify risks before they become failures and keep your lifting operations safe, compliant, and cost-effective.