Port & Maritime Training

The world of work is changing. COVID-19, automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), monopolies, war, the massive accumulation of capital and anti-union laws make the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) representing over 18 million transport workers in 150 countries indispensable in the struggle to protect and advance workers’ rights in the maritime industry.

Historically, ports involved manual handling in general cargo terminals, posing physical challenges for workers. Today's ports feature diverse terminals, including containers, dry bulk, liquid bulk, RoRo, etc. operated with modern equipment and digitised control systems.

By understanding where critical health and safety risks are in the cargo sector, we can better manage them. ICHCA has been collating publicly available information from around the world on the most severe consequences of personal workplace accidents in cargo handling. If we can learn lessons once and make sure that they stay learned, then our people get to go home in the same condition that they started their shift.

AIS message transmissions number in the tens of millions every single day. The Internet of Things, radar and vessel monitoring systems have hugely increased the amount of data to be processed, stored, analysed and distributed, but a secure cloud-based or hosted infrastructure can reduce the cost, commercial and operational load while increasing the value to the mariner.

The days of conventional machining by means of dies, presses and hammers appear to be numbered with computer aided design (CAD) software, materials science and other technologies that 3D printing relies on becoming more advanced in recent years.

Since the EU referendum, there has been a growing interest in the reintroduction of free zones in the United Kingdom. Those advocating free zones believe that they will help to boost British trade after Brexit and promote economic growth.

Private cellular wireless services are the key to unlocking the digital transformation of terminal operations. Today, the full-scale automation of berth and yard operations, including the deployment of automated stacking cranes (ASC) and automated horizontal transport, such as straddle carriers, as well as the use of drones, is being held back by the inadequacies of existing wireless systems.

As the scale and complexity of container ports operations grow, more sophisticated and accurate methods are required to derive precise planning for next generation ports.

The association between ports and manufacturing has constantly evolved through technological and economic changes. Prior to containerization, there were strong linkages between ports and heavy industrial activities, and indirectly with lighter forms of manufacturing.

Over the years, the cargo handling industry has made tremendous strides in developing the eco-efficiency of cargo and material handling through more efficient machines, optimization of cargo flows, as well as intelligent equipment and automation.

Drones are transforming the way organisations operate across the world. While most are prevalent in the military and defence industry, seaports are climbing to the top of the list of industries in the commercial sector that can reap the benefits.

Smart ports is a topical theme in the maritime industry as ports, terminals, shipping and the logistics chain seek to understand and take advantages of technology to improve the productivity of all aspects of their businesses.