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Port of Felixstowe Becomes First in Europe to Launch Autonomous Trucks Into Ops

Port of Felixstowe Becomes First in Europe to Launch Autonomous Trucks Into Ops
Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, News, Ocean Ports

Port of Felixstowe Becomes First in Europe to Launch Autonomous Trucks Into Ops

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Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe has introduced autonomous terminal tractor units (ATs) into mixed traffic container terminal operations.

The port is believed to be the first in Europe to introduce such equipment.

Manufacturer Westwell has supplied the first two battery-powered trucks to enter service at the UK’s largest container port – which is just exiting months of labour action after dockworkers struck a pay deal with Hutchison Ports.

READ: Hutchison Ports uses autonomous trucks in smart terminal transformation

“These new autonomous trucks represent a significant technological step forward for the Port of Felixstowe,” said Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer at the Port of Felixstowe.

“The tools underpinning port operations have evolved continuously, and we already have a range of very advanced systems and equipment in place, but this is the first time we will have wholly driverless vehicles.”

The ATs units have built-in safety features which are slated to ensure effective and safe operations at container terminals at the Port of Felixstowe.

The trucks use a digital map loaded to a fleet management system that controls the navigation around the port. The AT then combines that map with its on-board GPS navigation to track its real-time position.

READ: Visy TopView – A New Angle for Terminal Automation

“The ATs use LiDAR – a light sensing technology that creates a 3D map of an AT’s surroundings using a laser and receiver, which, when combined with its on-board 360-degree cameras, provide real-time, all-round ‘vision’,” said Project Director, and Hutchison Ports UK Chief Information Officer, Karen Poulter.

“This enables it to ‘see’ everything instantaneously in its vicinity to allow safe and accurate navigation.

“With the support of Extreme Precise Position (EPP) system, it can achieve positioning accuracy of 2 centimetres and a steering angle accuracy of 0.5 degrees.”

The trucks will be initially used to transport containers between Trinity and North Rail terminals at the port.

In September, PTI sat down with Kuo Ralph Ren, Senior Project Manager, Qolomo Autonomous Driving at Westwell.

Find out more in Part 1 of this In Conversation With series.

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Ocean Ports

DP World Launches New Technology Innovation Center in India

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DP World has opened a new technology centre in Gurgaon, India – its third this year following two in Hyderabad and Bangalore earlier this year.

The facility, located about 30 kilometers southwest of India’s capital New Delhi, will host over 240 people.

DP World will tap into India’s digital economy growth – set to reach $1 trillion by 2025 – nurturing resources to develop the latest available technologies, including blockchain, artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate trade flows.

DP World’s presence in the Indian technology market has grown rapidly to more than 450 employees and the opening of three offices in 2022.

The company aims to reach an employee headcount of 700 by the middle of next year.

READ: DP World divests stake to Indian Infrastructure Fund in $300 million investment

“At DP World, we are focused on developing cutting-edge applications and solutions to solve real-world trade problems,” said Pradeep Desai, DP World’s Chief Technology Officer.

“Across the industries in which we operate in, trade is moving from analogue to embrace new digital solutions. Our teams will be able to build and trial new solutions – from conception to execution – helping to automate the flow of trade.

“We are investing heavily in end-to-end logistics, trade finance, e-commerce and market access, all for benefitting cargo owners. In addition, efficiencies can be achieved in supply chains by using IoT to run operations, digital twins to monitor activities and movement of cargo via alternate modes of transport using optimization techniques.”

During COP27 in Egypt, DP World announced it will invest up to $500 million to cut CO2 emissions from its operations by nearly 700,000 tons over the next five years.

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Ashdod Port Adds New STS Cranes

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Ashdod Port has taken delivery of five semi-automatic Ship-to-shore (STS) cranes to reduce congestion at its facilities and increase the port’s competitivity in the supply chain.

The NIS 208 million ($62 million) cranes are equipped with advanced technology to assist in unloading and loading process and will be located in the new container terminal as part of the port’s investment in the renovation of pier 21.

The equipment was produced by Chinese manufacturer ZPMC and adapted to work with mega ships of up to 24,000 TEU capacity.

The cranes are 140.6 meters high with a marine arm length of 71 meters. They are adapted to work with 62-meter-wide ships that carry about 24 rows of containers.

The new STS equipment can lift loads with a total weight of up to 95 tons using a dedicated hook. Each of the cranes includes a TANDEM lifting device that allows for the removal of two full 40-foot containers with a total weight of 80 tons.

The camera and laser systems installed on the cranes allow for remote control, while a TOS system enables semi-automatic operations as well.

The cranes were shipped from China in early February and are expected to be fully operational by next September.

Shiko Janna, CEO of the Port of Ashdod, said the new equipment will help the port alleviate congestion resulted from the outbreak of the pandemic and promote technological improvements for a faster and more efficient management.

The Ashdod Port Company reported impressive financial results despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis – posting an increase in operating profit of 142 per cent in 2021 and achieving record-breaking figures in container handling.

demurrage The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) has approved the concession of a space in the Port of Sagunto to ZELEROS to carry out a pilot for its hyperloop transport system.
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Hyperloop technology to be installed at the Port of Sagunto

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The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) has approved the concession of a space in the Port of Sagunto to ZELEROS to carry out a pilot for its hyperloop transport system.

The start-up company will soon begin building a prototype of its Sustainable Electric Freight-Forwarder (SELF) autonomous container transport system in the port.

This technology aims help Sagunto decarbonise and automate container movements between terminals.

The PAV’s Board of Directors (BoD) approved the concession of land on 11 February 2022.

The system consists of vehicles guided by rails and propelled by a 100 percent electric linear motor, this can also be operated in a fully automated way.

The Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT) also played a large hand in developing the motor.

Additionally, the prototype will make use of a 100-metre shuttle which will be subjected to several missions to validate the functionality of the overall system.

The Port of Sagunto will provide an ideal location for the mock version as it can bring the technology as close as possible to the final application environment.

“Hyperloop technologies are also applicable to other sectors, such as the port sector, and with this pioneering pilot we will demonstrate and optimise the SELF system, accelerating the path towards its commercialisation that will allow its implementation in ports all over the world,” said David Pistoni, Co-Founder and CEO of ZELEROS.

Aurelio Martínez, President of the PAV, added: “The concession of this space to the Valencian start-up ZELEROS reaffirms Valenciaport’s commitment to innovation.

“Ports are spaces of innovation that host innovative experiences; this is how progress is made towards increasingly sustainable, efficient and safe operations. And of course, with this project, the Port of Sagunto is sending out a clear message of identifying itself as an industrial and innovative enclave of reference in the Mediterranean for future generations.”

The project is supported by the European Eureka-Eurostars programme and is co-founded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) and the Polish National Research and Development Centre (NBCR).

Therefore, the ZELEROS system is aligned with the EU Sustainable Development Goals, paving the way towards a low-carbon future.

In other recent news, Valencia port has reaffirmed its place as one of Europe’s biggest ports, handling 5,604,478 TEU in 2021.

These figures demonstrate an increase of 3.25 per cent compared to the port’s performance in 2020 and sees it surpass the yearly results from the Port of Piraeus in Greece, cementing its position as the fourth busiest port in Europe.