Smart port is a development model that uses technical means such as the Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence to improve port operation efficiency and service quality. With the growth of global trade and the development and application of advanced technologies, the construction of smart ports in some countries has entered a stage of rapid development. In recent years, the Netherlands, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and other countries have accelerated the automation and digital transformation of port facilities and equipment, strengthened the intelligent management of port operations, and continuously improved the competitiveness of port logistics systems.
The Dutch port of Rotterdam is one of the largest ports in Europe. In 2023, the Port of Rotterdam handled 438.8 million tons of cargo. The Port of Rotterdam is also a pioneer in the development of terminal automation in Europe, where most container loading and stacking is now controlled by computers and done by automated cranes (see picture 1, photo by Niu Ruifei). In recent years, the Port of Rotterdam has continuously strengthened technological innovation and improved the level of intelligence.
At the end of 2022, the Port of Rotterdam introduced drones to conduct daily inspections of the port. The drones routinely inspect the port area once a week, including ship refueling, water pollution, cargo transfer, hazardous substances, air pollution and on-board maintenance. When an emergency occurs in the port area, the drone can also carry medical supplies, ship parts or cargo samples to the first time to the incident, which greatly improves the emergency rescue efficiency of the port.
In January 2023, the digital platform "Next Generation Logistics" was put into use in the Port of Rotterdam. The digital platform mainly collects the docking place, time, cargo and other information of each ship in the port, and gives the best plan for unloading and packing each ship in a short time, which is equivalent to the "central processor" of the port. In 2023, 1 million containers have been applied to the "new generation logistics" platform, saving one-fifth of the transit time. At present, about 60% of the land traffic in the Port of Rotterdam is deployed through the platform.
The container exchange route at the Port of Rotterdam will be operational in November 2023. The 17-kilometre closed road connects several terminals, warehouses and customs checkpoints at the port, including three junctions, five railway crossings and lighting, cables and pipes, traffic lights and access railings. The parties connected to this road transfer containers through multiple modes of transport such as multi-trailer systems, dock tractors with chassis and ordinary trucks, which is called the "container highway" in the port area.
Bidevenzin Simons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said that the container exchange route is highly innovative and greatly contributes to the intelligent construction and safe and efficient operation of the Port of Rotterdam. "The Port of Rotterdam Authority will continue to work on the intelligent and efficient construction of the port and consolidate its position as a global container hub."
The Port of Singapore is one of the busiest container transshipment ports in the world, with a container throughput of 38.8 million TEUs in 2023, ranking second in the world. The Port of Singapore has six major terminals, including Jurong, Keppel and Tanjong Pagar (below). In recent years, the Port of Singapore has actively promoted the construction of a smart port.
Singapore launched the "Marine Industry Transformation Blueprint" in 2018, proposing to strengthen technology research and development, and optimize the operation of the Port of Singapore by using emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data analysis as soon as possible. The updated version of the Maritime Industry Transformation Blueprint launched in 2022 further emphasizes the promotion of innovation in the maritime industry and the construction of smart ports.
Singapore has launched a one-stop digital port platform through which shipping companies can submit all port clearance documents to different government agencies at once, saving the maritime industry about 100,000 man-hours a year. At the Singapore Maritime Data Centre, shipping companies and government agencies can share maritime data, including vessel information, location, arrival and departure times, etc. Singapore is also developing a new vessel traffic management system that can provide comprehensive real-time maritime traffic conditions and predict traffic hotspots in port waters.
In 2021, Singapore's first maritime drone test area was officially commissioned. A number of companies are here to test drone technology related to maritime businesses, including using drones to deliver land packages to ships, patrol the harbor and inspect ships, and collect information on ship location and weather conditions. The drone traffic management system can manage up to 500 drones, ensuring that tasks such as delivering packages and patrolling seaports are carried out efficiently and safely. The Singapore government announced last year that it would build a drone port primarily for shipping supplies.
In 2018, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the National University of Singapore and some corporate bodies jointly launched an industry acceleration programme for the port and maritime industry to promote cooperation between technology startups and the maritime industry. Under the program, the Singapore government holds the "Smart Port Challenge" every year, inviting domestic and foreign startups to propose innovative solutions for the construction of smart ports, and the selected companies will receive up to 250,000 Singapore dollars (1 US dollar about 1.3 Singapore dollars) in funding.
Singapore Transport Minister Xu Fangda said that with the advancement of science and technology, maritime technology will have an increasingly far-reaching impact on the efficiency and sustainable development of maritime transport and port operations, and Singapore has been supporting the application of emerging technologies in ports and actively looking for effective solutions.
Jebel Ali Port is located in the southwest of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, is the largest port in the Middle East, and one of the world's ten busiest container ports. The port has a total of 67 berths, a dock length of 15 kilometers, and handles more than 14 million TEUs per year. In order to cope with the needs of the significant increase in container traffic, Jebel Ali Port Container Terminal 3 adopts a fully automated operation mode, through the integration of 18 sets of internal systems, can be the opposite shore bridge operation, berth planning, storage yard management, truck deployment and other real-time tracking management.
In order to solve the problem of time-consuming and large footprint of traditional container stacking, the port cooperated to develop the world's first elevated container storage system, which stacks each container like a standard product into a different position of up to 11 layers of storage racks, which can be picked up and transported by automatic robots. After the system was put into operation, the number of non-productive container movements per year at Jebel Ali Port was significantly reduced.
In May, DP World announced it would strengthen its partnership with freight company Ain Reid to deploy 100 electric trucks at Jebel Ali port. Networked and intelligently managed, these electric trucks analyze and optimize freight efficiency in the port through a central digital operating system and are expected to support around 1,600 container movements per day. Starting next year, the port will also pilot autonomous driving of electric trucks. According to media reports, this will be the largest electric cargo deployment at a port in the Middle East.
More than 90 per cent of global trade is carried out by sea, said Mohamed Ibrahim, the relevant head of information technology at DP World, the operator of Jebel Ali port. In the digital age, a port's digital infrastructure is a key part of a stable and smooth supply chain. Dp World attaches great importance to the application of innovative technologies to advance port intelligence.
Outside Jebel Ali port is the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone, where more than 9,000 enterprises have settled. China is one of the major trading partners of the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone. Sultan, chairman and CEO of DP World, said that the intelligent construction of ports will further promote the interconnection of global logistics networks and help Dubai become an important platform and hub for the docking of global commodity trade circulation. Jebel Ali Port is willing to further play a role as a bridge and link to facilitate Chinese goods to enter the Middle East, Africa and Europe markets.
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