EagleRail Container Logistics, a global container logistics company based in Chicago, US, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) in Bangladesh as part of efforts to improve traffic throughput and ease congestion.
In a statement, Eagle Container Logistics said it has created the first automated, patented and environmentally conscious system to increase port throughput and capacity.
Its technology and infrastructure solution replaces the manual reliance on diesel trucks with a short-haul, suspended overhead container movements system that quickly lifts containers and shuttles them to local yards or intermodal transportation hubs, bypassing ground obstacles, including roadways and open water.
Mike Wychocki, CEO, EagleRail Container Logistics, said he was proud of the agreement struck with the CTA.
“We are honored that officials in Bangladesh have given the green light to investigate ways EagleRail can reduce crippling gridlock and improve efficiencies between their existing and new terminals and intermodal connections,” he said at the official signing.
As well as this MoU, EagleRail said it could be included in the Chittagong Master Plan for the New Bay Container Terminal (BCT), which would connect the Karnaphuli River terminals (NCT, CCT and GCB) and both expanded railheads that connect container rail traffic to Dhaka.
Furthermore, EagleRail is also being considered as part of the master design for the new expanded Customs Clearance operation in order to increase the number of containers that get scanned in-line, which is an operational advantage of overhead light-rail transportation.
EagleRail’s solution is emission-free and has been shown to cut CO2 and particulate pollution by up to 60% when compared to diesel trucks. In addition to this MoU, the company also has an agreement in place in Gujarat, India, and is in negotiation to do so in Brazil, South Africa and China.
As part of its operations, Bangladesh, EagleRail has partnered with local infrastructure and technology consulting firm COSMOS Group, based in Dhaka and Chattogram.
“EagleRail’s innovative solution shall greatly help with sustaining Bangladesh’s continued growth, through the highly efficient and accurate handling of cargo at Chittagong port, eventually benefiting a whole range of clients spanning from common consumers to service providers of the nation as a whole,” states Enayetullah Khan, Founder and Chairman, Cosmos Group.
As for its global activities, EagleRail Container Logistics has partnered with ZPMC, a world leader in container crane manufacturing, cargo handling equipment and offshore heavy-duty products, to design and develop the automated lifting and shuttling system.
It is also working closely with industry-leading virtual conveyance-planning software FlexSim to demonstrate verifiable system elements for each installation, such as volume, route, track and load-station options to ultimately provide efficiency and financial data before any expensive design work is commenced.
Ian Harris, Vice President Strategic Sales, COSCO Shipping Lines, emphasised how important solutions such as EagleRail’s is to the smooth flow of container traffic.
“With the continued growth in global trade and ships now several times larger than their predecessors only a decade ago, ports constantly struggle to keep their yards unclogged and functioning properly,” Harris said.
“The terminals need a higher velocity and higher flow technology than individual trucks or legacy on-dock rail where availability is hampered by railcar imbalances or engine and power shortages. To maintain yard fluidity, it is essential to be able to transport thousands of containers in and out of the terminals in the shortest time possible.”
CEO Mike Wychocki will present details of the EagleRail Container Logistics solution during a keynote speech at Port Technology International’s annual conference, Smart Digital Ports of the Future, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, November 4 – 6, 2019. For a video of the EagleRail solution, please click here.
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