Ports and Terminals

Transportation is one of the world's largest contributors to global emissions, hence climate change. Since the introduction of the container, global trade has taken unprecedented growth, fostered by ever decreasing costs. At the tip of our fingers, the global shopping window is exposing itself to the global consumer.

Decarbonising our operations is a priority at APM Terminals and to succeed in that, we must overcome some of the main roadblocks for our industry, with fragmentation being one of the most challenging. In decarbonisation, speed and scale are not just the name of the game (and that of a great book by John Doerr), they're imperatives in the battle to protect our planet.

Our net-zero targets have been established and are a crucial part of our overall manifesto. These targets encompass both net-zero goals and diversity and inclusion (DNI) targets. Implementing these targets presents certain challenges, particularly in the area of fleet and fleet management. Port operators, being large fleet operators themselves, are well aware of this challenge.

On 7 July 2023, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member States meeting in the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) adopted the "2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships" (2023 IMO GHG Strategy), with enhanced targets to tackle harmful emissions. The 2023 IMO GHG Strategy represents the continuation of work by IMO as the appropriate international body to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping.

As an established family business with over 90 years of experience, it is in our DNA to promote innovation internally. Our company vision gives us the goal to be technical frontrunners and market leaders in our core industries and areas.

We have been involved in port master planning for many years, including design and asset management for Ro-Ro, cruise and container terminals, as well as across the wider mixed economy of port operations. Our ports and maritime team have been working with owners and operators worldwide to accommodate larger vessels, upgrade dockside technology and enhance operational efficiency.

BOXBAY allows for direct access to containers without reshuffling and uses a much smaller footprint than conventional stacking yards. It works like a library - except each book can weigh 40 tonnes.

In the rapidly-evolving ports industry, Hutchison Ports has emerged as a frontrunner in driving transformation through its relentless investment in research and development. The company’s commitment to automation and technological advancements is revolutionising container terminal operations, making it a preferred partner for technology and equipment suppliers worldwide.

As a terminal operator, whether that be in maritime or intermodal, when was the last time you stopped and asked yourself: “What empowers your operations?”. Many operators will likely answer this with ideas like good processes, teamwork, communication, coordination. All good answers, but these only scratch the surface.

It wasn’t long ago that a single shipping container required a new set of paper documents for every part of the supply chain it passed through. Perhaps every country, too. Put this into the context of a modern port terminal such as Antwerp Gateway in Belgium, which has an annual throughput of 2.8 million TEU, and you can start to picture the complexity and how time-consuming that would be on a global scale.

Safety is a key concern for terminal operators, and one of the key areas to address is applications in which heavy container handling equipment must operate in areas with mixed traffic or people. Equipment or cargo damage can lead to costly delays and disrupt operations.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges (PoAB) has developed a Digital Twin, which is essentially a digital replica of all operations occurring within the port's territory. This cutting-edge technology was implemented to create situational awareness for all employees of the PoAB, acting as the central component that combines all the port's initiatives within its digital nervous system.