Vessel call sizes are increasing. Schedule reliability is at its lowest ever. Inland supply chains face bottlenecks at rates rarely seen in the logistics sector.
Challenges faced by ports and terminals is putting the streamlining of processes at premium value; and bringing in automated solutions will be a key investment consideration for the years ahead.
This PTI 118 Container Terminal Automation Conference (CTAC) edition of our E-Journal aligns with Port Technology International’s flagship networking event held at the Chelsea Harbour on 9 & 10 March 2022.
Gathering stakeholders for our first in-person CTAC since 2019, we are thrilled to welcome so many returning – and new – faces to discuss the latest challenges, innovations, and insights into terminal automation.
And, we are delighted to bring you some of those insights in this edition of the journal!
Our partners Camco Technologies have submitted their contribution on the benefits of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Optical Feature Recognition (OFR) in optimising terminals. Reducing truck and container turnaround times is a vital challenge as congestion in ports continues to grow. Camco’s solutions will be a factor in driving down trucking waiting times.
Partners BEUMER Group have highlighted the potential of their automated products in the bulk sector. A fascinating editorial piece on a recent project conducted on the island of Borneo shows how the company can transform ship loading through automation.
From the operational, we move to the digital side of a port complex. We welcome back Navis, giving their top three tips on minimising berth wait times. Digitalisation, data management, and leveraging AI and Machine Learning technologies: these three tenets are critical to automate processes and create a stronger, faster, and smarter terminal.
This edition is also jampacked with some of the smartest port operators in the world and their experiences in utilising automation.
The Hamburg Port Authority and HHLA Sky have continually been at the forefront of improving operations through drone technology. With a Drones-as-a-Service pilot on the way later this year, this editorial piece highlights the learnings and scalability of automating drones for a complete picture of port operations.
Further north, at the Port of Tallinn, an automated mooring solution is just one project on the agenda for the Estonian port. With prodigious potential in the container terminal sector, the port authority and local terminal operator HHLA have collaborated to discuss priorities for automation at its facilities.
Finally, we had the pleasure of speaking with the brightest minds at APM Terminals and its automation priorities for 2022 and beyond. With a plethora of terminals globally and varying degrees of supply chain maturity, we dug deeper into automation investment ethos, progress on standardisation, and the emerging cyber-threat facing terminal operators.