COSCO Shipping has signed an agreement with China Mobile and Dongfeng Motor Corporation to cooperate on the development of self-driving vehicles for 5G-enabled smart ports.
In a statement, COSCO Shipping said the parties will commit building a “future auto ecology” and creating an environment that allows self-driving at smart ports, as well as accelerating the use of 5G in Chinese container hubs.
Additionally, COSCO Shipping said the partnership marks the latest endeavour from the three parties since the launch of China’s first 5G full-scene application smart port on May 11 2020.
In that instance, the parties held a successful pilot at the Port of Xiamen which included trialling a fleet of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) around the container yard.
It is the latest such collaborative project COSCO Shipping has conducted to deploy smart technologies in its terminal portfolio.
In January 2021 it unveiled plans with DSP Data and System Planning (DSP) and Talumis to build a digital twin at the Port of Valencia to optimise processes and increase efficiencies.
In March 2021 it launched a project to deploy blockchain in China’s inland ports as part of a cooperation with Anhui Provincial Port and Shipping Group, which it described as a key initiative in its goal to upgrade and integrate cargo operations.
Furthermore, it signed an agreement with Shanghai International Port Group to improve data sharing in China.
