With two of the most advanced automated terminals built to date coming on stream in Rotterdam, the industry is now watching to see if full automation can deliver a step-change in productivity.
Maersk Line CEO Søren Skou recently noted that while ship sizes on the Asia-Europe trades have doubled, port productivity has remained almost static, increasing port time per round voyage by 50% to 18 days. He called for the terminal industry to make a “leapfrogging move” and come up with something like the double-decker jetway developed for the Airbus A380.
APMT’s new MVII terminal and Rotterdam World Gateway are state-of-the art in container terminal technology, with remote controlled STS cranes, battery powered Lift AGVs and a full suite of process automation systems (discussed in more detail on p45-47).
MVII and RWG highlight that the terminal industry is still very focused on how to engineer a system that enables today’s cranes to function at something approaching their theoretical cycle times. They embody the belief that, properly planned and executed, the ever-growing largest vessels can be handled with consistent crane productivity of over 40 moves an hour, while at the same time meeting the needs of truck, barge and rail modes.
If, when and how the Rotterdam terminals get there is yet to be seen, but there are many who believe that, by bringing a new level of automation to terminal operations, they have the best chance yet.
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This complete item is approximately 300 words in length, and appeared in the May 2015 issue of WorldCargo News, on page 1. To access this issue download the PDF here.
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