A) INSIGHTS FROM PORT LOGISTICS

What does current technology already make possible? How can existing resources be utilized more efficiently? Which technologies should terminals pursue and which ones are just “hot air”? What has been the experience of individual terminals?

In the “Insights from port logistics” category in PORT LOGISTCS BLOG, we intend to pursue the answers to these questions and share our personal experiences and opinions. Get an overview of actual and future topics and Profit from Deep insights from port logistics.

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TIC4.0 – Standards: Why are standards in the port and terminal industry helping small ports?

| PORT LOGISTICS EXPERTS

port industry standards for port industryThe port and terminal industry is going for more integration and automation across various levels of the processes. Due to this the terminal industry is striving for more standards and does that in different initiatives such as the Terminal Industry Committee 4.0 (TIC4.0), “Port Call Optimization” or others. Often standards don’t need to be reinvented because there are some existing standards in the industry such as IMDG, BIC or ISO. But these are often too little process oriented to help with the integration and digitization. Therefore, the initiatives put these standards and new definitions in a process-oriented context. These standards are meant defining industry wide standards and therefore are required to drive forward the integration, digitization and automation on various levels more efficiently.

Benefits for small ports from port industry standards

Earlier this year I spoke at an online conference at Connect2SmallPorts project (C2SP) which is an EU funded initiative to push digitization for small ports and terminals in the Southern Baltic Sea. After discussing and being in contact with this project, the question came up: Are small ports and terminals benefiting from standards or is this only something for big ports or terminals with big automation projects?

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First CHESSCON User event 2020 – A review

| PORT LOGISTICS EXPERTS

chesscon-online-user-event

On 29 October, we invited interested parties and customers to our first digital user event about our CHESSCON applications. More than 20 terminal and port experts from Asia, Africa and Europe took part in the deep digital exchange via Microsoft Teams. Götz Anspach von Broecker of AIRBUS Defence & Space GmbH offered an impressive introduction with his keynote coming from space to terminals.

The future port empowered by space technology

The presentation of von Broecker gave a brief overview, how space business already influences the logistics sector with already existing standard services. And it illuminated the processes and tools used in space since decades which become now interesting in the frame of the Industry 4.0 and IOT age, even to be copied and applied by the logistic sector. Von Broecker showed that teleservice/telecontrol, global connectivity, cybersecurity and multi-user coordination, as well as “digital twin”, autonomy and robotics are applied at space. Since decades,  these  are available for re-use to  mutual advantage of the logistics  business field, too.

CHESSCON 9.0 with detailed 3D visualisation

After this, Oliver Jelsch (Director Sales and Business Development) and Horst-Dieter Kassl (CDO) from akquinet port consulting gave an overview of the new features of CHESSCON 9.0. Kassl presented the new and improved 3D objects directly in the life system. Realistic optics in the new version 9.0 include for example reflective water, new models of ships, trucks, forklifts, quay cranes and even individual car models. Also, the realistic shadows create a perfect virtualization of the terminal, which is very close to a digital twin of the operational TOS. The CHESSCON simulation tool has also been further developed in response to numerous customer requests. Here too, 3D simulations are now possible, including “in-time-moving” equipment. Customers can thus switch between 2D planning and a detailed 3D simulation. In CHESSCON Yard View, car terminals or mixed car/container stacking areas can now also be developed and visualized in 3D. The cars, vans, lorries, trucks or even tanks can be selected in detail by brand, model and type. An Automated Yard Crane Database Interface and a Crane Automation System (CAS API) were developed for Navis N4, but are also available for other TOS, too.

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TIC 4.0 – Interview series: Ottonel Popesco, President PEMA

| PORT LOGISTICS EXPERTS

1. What do you think is the current status of standardization in the container terminal industry, what are the points not addressed yet?

In order to better understand the standardization evolution and its complexity in the port industry I would like to point out some important facts in this process. Standardization is one of the port industry challenges since the first container terminal was opened in 1932 in Pennsylvania ; only one year later the first obligatory parameters of containers were established under the International Chamber of Commerce and Bureau International des Conteneurs, but this was not internationally accepted; first steps of standardization  for the  sea transportation started after WW2 with the main patented invention of the goods containerization in 1956 in US by Mc Lean, with, among others, the twistlock invention. His main idea was to use containers that were never opened from supplier to end user usable by sea or road.

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TIC4.0 – Interview series: Lamia Kerdjoudj, Secretary General FEPORT

| PORT LOGISTICS EXPERTS

1. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF STANDARDIZATION IN THE CONTAINER TERMINAL INDUSTRY, WHAT ARE THE POINTS NOT ADDRESSED YET?

I think that standardization was lacking in the terminal industry and this is how and why TIC 4.0 came to birth. The main objective of TIC 4.0 is to bring together terminal operators, port equipment manufacturers and software suppliers to define, develop and maintain standards that enable the sector to face critical challenges like digital transformation, energy transition and the evolution towards automation. This objective will allow both operators and manufacturers to adopt a common language regarding port operations and implement Industry 4.0 models. The existence of these standards will foster an efficient adoption of the Industry 4.0 paradigm and at a lower cost, enabling operators, manufacturers and software providers to share a common understanding of the key aspects that affect the operations and logistics of port terminals.

The needs and points to be addressed are numerous particularly because we are in the middle of a transition period and embracing the fourth industrial revolution. We are “learning while walking”.

2. From your point of view, why are standards important moving forward in the 4th industrial revolution and IoT?

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TIC 4.0 Member Interview – Boris Wenzel Member and President of TIC on: Why to join TIC4.0

| PORT LOGISTICS EXPERTS

1. What do you think is the current status of standardization in the container terminal industry, what are the points not addressed yet?

We are just at the beginning. With the new Terminal Industry Committee 4.0 (TIC 4.0) it is the first time that all the actors of our industry sit down together with the clear intention to agree about semantics and protocols, in order to formalize and standardize the language used in our industry. At last, our industry has become conscious that without an easy interconnexion of systems facilitated by commonly accepted standards we cannot build a complex system, unless it is a custom-designed complex system that will be really expensive and risky to undertake.

2. From your point of view, why are standards important moving forward in the 4th industrial revolution and IoT?

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