Container Handling

Control rooms in container terminals have traditionally served as the nerve centre for planning, execution, and logistics coordination. As automation transforms terminal operations, the role of control room staff is also evolving.

At first glance, the aviation and container terminal industries might seem like two separate worlds—one soaring through the skies, the other anchored at bustling ports. Airports move people at high speeds across continents, while terminals guide containers through intricate supply chains. But when you zoom out, both industries share the same fundamental challenge: managing transport hubs where precision, efficiency, and adaptability determine success.

Trade and shipping form the backbone of world economy, with approximately over 80 per cent of international trade transported by sea. This unparalleled reliance on maritime logistics underscores the critical role ports play in facilitating commerce, connecting markets, and supporting economic growth.

One of the great challenges of maritime transport is to guarantee safety both during crossings and inside the port facilities. As a nexus between the maritime and terrestrial worlds, ports and terminal operators face a complex challenge: ensuring that the entry and exit of people, vehicles, and goods are organised, efficient, and free of threats.

With a growing global focus on sustainability, the port and terminal industry faces significant pressure to pursue decarbonisation. The electrification of container handling equipment at ports is in its infancy, but the landscape is evolving relatively quickly. Governments and companies are setting timelines for reducing emissions, and C-suite terminal executives with technology and sustainability responsibilities are considering the kinds of solutions that will be necessary to achieve those goals while satisfying the performance requirements of their operations.

Dr. Mathias Dobner discusses the strides BOXBAY has made in revolutionising container handling with its space-efficient high-bay storage solutions, the challenges of widespread adoption, and the company's commitment to sustainability. From reducing energy consumption and land use to exploring innovative applications, BOXBAY aims to lead the industry towards a more sustainable future.

In the current logistics industry landscape, multimodal transportation is crucial for optimising the movement of goods. With increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions and rising costs of traditional methods, sustainable and efficient logistics solutions are more urgent than ever.

The latest research progress in robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) helps autonomous driving technology become more and more applicable in daily life and industry scenarios. The robotaxi and the autonomous trucking systems are built mainly based on vehicle onboard sensors and computing units. As the operation domain on public roads involves large-scale scenarios regarding locations and objects, an intelligent vehicle must be able to make its decision with its own perception and localisation inputs.

Digital twins are one the fastest growing concepts in the container handling industry, especially with the growth of complementary technologies such as IoT and cloud. The virtual 3D replica of a terminal gives you complete visibility of the terminal environment, its equipment, container inventory and much more.

At PTI’s Container Terminal Automation Conference (CTAC) North America in November 2023, Matthew Wittemeier, representing INFORM, discussed his perspective on container terminal optimisation. With over 25 years of experience, INFORM emphasizes proven technological solutions tailored to diverse end-user requirements. Their insights shed light on the role of AI and optimisation in shaping the future of automation in port operations.

The world is in the middle of the electric revolution. The change from fossil fuel-driven machines to electric-driven has affected almost all industries in one way or another. As always with new technology, it brings new and exciting possibilities, but it also comes with the risk of misunderstandings, insecurity, and even fear, as new technology like electrified vehicles and machines replace old well-known diesel-driven alternatives.