Featured with higher efficiency,less pollution,little loss of goods and operation automation,the continuous ship unloader has benn applied formore than 40 years in China. At present,over a hundred sets of various forms of continuous ship unloaders are used in China’s ports.Based on the types of coal continuous ship unloaders and technical characteristics,we analyze the development,application and tendency and summarize its adaptability.According to the technical level of the design,manufacture and operation management,and the current social environmental requirements, we concludeits applicability.