An arm 8 (Fig.1) consisting of parallel axes sections 10, 12, 14, 16 slidable relative to one another to advance or retract a forward section 16 from or to a rearmost section 10 is luffably mounted on a slewable pillar 6. The forward section 16 carries, on a horizontal axis pivot 34, a mounting 32 which in turn, carries a support head 30 slewable about an axis in the vertical plane. A gantry 36, restraint strap 54 and winch 44 are mounted on the support head 30. The device is operable by slewing the pillar 6 and support head 30 and advancing or retracting the arm 8 to position the support head in register with a horizontally extending elongate conainter 50, for connection thereto. The elongate container is lifted by luffing the arm, and the support head and elongate container are pivoted to a vertically extending orientation to enable the container to be positioned in register with a vertically extending aperture by advancing or retracting the arm 8 and slewing the pillar 6. Lowering of the container 50 into the aperture is effected by operation of the winch 44. The articulation of the various components permits the device to have a compact configuration for storage on board a ship or transportation between ships on high wire or jack stay equipment also used for transportation of the elongate containers.