The Xiamen Port in China last week started a trial run for the intelligent transformation of traditional container terminals.
This is the first port of China that is undergoing intelligent transformation and will have the entire operation chain of its Hairun Container Terminal depending on Artificial Intelligence.
With the transformation, the cranes now run automatically, lifts 40-foot containers from the giant ships, gently crosses the ship’s side, and stably lands them on the blue automatic driving truck (IGV), and then transports them to the yard and park them on the underneath of the intelligently transformed tire-mounted gantry crane.
The gantry crane automatically grabs and accurately and smoothly places the containers on the IGV in the designated yard position. The whole process is completed in one go.
In the past, the gantry crane driver needed to climb up the equipment nearly 30 meters high and bend over to work in the small cab. After the intelligent transformation, the driver can sit in a spacious office to operate the handle, and most of the complicated operations can be completed by the intelligent system.
China’s logistic sector people said at present, the operation mode of most traditional terminals in China can no longer adapt to the new development trend of the logistics industry, and intelligent transformation is imminent.
In July 2020 the Xiamen Port Holding Group took the Hairun Terminal as a pilot project and took the lead in launching domestically the first intelligent transformation and innovation project of the entire port area and the entire operation chain of a traditional container terminal.
This is part of the efforts of Chinese political leaderships’ plan to build a world-class smart port and green port.
However, it was discussed by the logistics industry players that fully intelligently transformation of traditional container terminals is difficult, but because of its higher economic and social benefits, it has become the goal of continuous exploration and breakthroughs by project companies.
The Xiamen Port is the 14th largest container port in the world, with routes connecting 141 ports in 50 countries and regions. In 2021, the throughput of Xiamen Port Hairun Terminal reached 1,001,300 TEU, a year-on-year increase of 2.16%.
Since the trial operation of intelligent equipment, the system stability and overall operation efficiency have exceeded expectations, and the workload of intelligent equipment has exceeded 40%.
Sharar Nayel
Asia Correspondent
