The Port of Montreal will utilise artificial intelligence (AI) to optimise its logistics operations and accelerate its smart port project after signing a deal with Avado Labs, a tech startup specialising in AI solutions.
In a statement, the Port said it the project was headed by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), terminal operators Montreal Gateway Terminals and Termont Montreal Inc, as well as EI Systems and Canscan.
The partners will build a new predictive tool that optimises port logistics and let the Port improve its operational planning and positively impact the transit times for containerised cargo in the supply chain, in particular rail freight.
Vice-President, Operations at the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), stated: “This project is another critical milestone towards the ‘Smart Port’ vision we are implementing.
“It will benefit all stakeholders involved in the chain by reducing cargo delays and transit time while maximizing throughput to our major logistics hub.”
The Port said the the new AI solution aims to optimize freight train planning based on variables such as ship arrivals, rail car deliveries, storage capacity, workforce availability and more to achieve optimal fluidity.
It was developed in collaboration with IVADO Labs and is the second project benefiting the MPA and funded by the Government of Canada through Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence AI (Scale AI), an investment and innovation cluster that accelerates the application of artificial intelligence for supply chains.
In May 2019, the Port of Montreal partnered in a project that makes it possible to use AI to accelerate the handling of goods deemed “critical” in the current COVID-19 pandemic.