PORT DIGITIZATION

The port and terminal business is evolving at a rapid pace. For some years now, growth hasn’t been driven as much by terminal expansion and the purchase of new equipment, but instead through more efficient, predictive utilization of existing resources. Is this already port digitization or Port 4.0?

Today, no terminal can get by without a TOS system or many other key IT applications, which provide the necessary information to make safe, reliable management, planning, and investment decisions. Further new, modern solutions for simulation and decision support are becoming increasingly important.

In the “Port Digitization” category in PORT LOGISTICS BLOG we inform about technologies for smarter operations integration, like mobile devices, IoT, big data, blockchain and more.

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New “Handbook of Terminal Planning”

| PORT LOGISTICS EXPERTS

A conversation between Prof. Dr. Holger Schütt and Prof. Dr. Jürgen W. Böse who is professor in logistics at the University of Applied Sciences Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel, and editor of the recently published 2nd edition of the “Handbook of Terminal Planning” 

Holger Schütt: Hello Jürgen, nice to see you again. I think the last time we met was in summer 2016. At that time, you were still working at the Technical University in Hamburg Harburg (TUHH). How did you fare since then?

Jürgen Böse: After working for 6 years at the Institute of Maritime Logistics at TUHH as chief engineer and gaining a lot of interesting experience in dealing with students and conducting maritime research projects (especially seaport logistics), I had the opportunity to take the next step professionally in the summer of 2017. I received the call for a logistics professorship at the University of Applied Sciences Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel, accepted this call and started my teaching and research activities there in the summer term 2018, which I still enjoy doing today.

Holger Schütt: In 2008, you approached me whether I would be interested in contributing a chapter on “simulation” in a manual for terminal planning. How did you come up with the idea to publish the first version of the “Handbook of Terminal Planning”?

Jürgen Böse: Already in the early 2000s – during my doctoral studies – I was often annoyed by the fact that the search for literature sources on the topic of “Terminal Planning” very often led me to publications in the field of process optimization and thus to the algorithmic world of Operations Research (OR), where the search usually ended…

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CHESSCON User Event 2021 – A review

| PORT LOGISTICS EXPERTS

chesscon-online-user-event
After the first digital CHESSCON User Event in October 2020 we invited for a second event in February 2021. Our goal was to create a platform where terminal experts could exchange information and ideas. And we are very happy that this format has been so well received. Thanks to all speakers for their engagement and the exciting presentations and to all guests for the good discussions.

For all those who did not participate in the CHESSCON User Event 2021, we are happy to provide the presentations on demand.

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New Report: Planning for Automation of Container Terminals

| PORT LOGISTICS EXPERTS

Planning for automation of container terminals

Together with some 45 experts in the field of Automation in Container Terminals I had the honour to work in the previous two years on the report about the “Planning for Automation of Container Terminals”. It was organised by the Maritime Navigation Commission (MarCom) under the umbrella of PIANC – The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (www.PIANC.org).

The report provides 85 pages on a holistic view regarding the topics:

  • fundamental definitions: a closer look
  • providing the business case including a financial model, by also having a look at the environment and social impacts
  • planning phase including operation modes, terminal layout, and equipment sizing
  • holistic view also including the management of the integration on all terminal areas
  • finally, the engineering, implementation and last but not least the operation of the terminal.

The report shows, that simulation and emulation technologies are highly required to secure the work in all phases. It provides an overview of simulation software – including the CHESSCON family that is specialized in container terminal operations.

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TIC 4.0 – Member Interview Series: Harry Nguyen, CEO of Realtime Business Solutions Pty. Ltd

| 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?

Process, operation, and information standardization are still in their earlier stages within our industry. These circumstances reveal the current port landscape of operation methods becoming complicated due to fine-tuning to meet their unique objectives. Therefore, developing a standard language to become applicable for all customers pose a challenge for equipment and software manufacturers. Furthermore, it is more difficult for customers to innovate and expand their technology capabilities in the future without encountering any potential system integration issues or incurring fees due to high system customization requirements and constantly “re-inventing” interfaces. As a result, standardization will fortify communication and collaboration between customer and solution provider by driving synchronized understanding in information data exchange, evolving the global supply chain.

With concerted efforts in establishing a common set of standards to facilitate advancements in all aspects technologically and operationally, TIC 4.0 and iTerminals have already contributed significant strides in closing the existing gap between where we want to be and where we are currently. By addressing prevalent issues within the industry and promoting high collaboration amongst all peers, establishing an agreed methodology and language to communicate develops a strong foundation that readily accepts technological advancements.

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

In a world constant of rapid technological advancements, achieving standardization is crucial to maintaining consistency in operations and performance. Reinforcing a common language and methodology protects operational performance from information and communication discrepancies. IT infrastructures prevalent vary according to several factors that span from size to software and equipment provider, allowing boundless approaches to implement. Without standardization, these IT infrastructures vary too much that it can create incompatibility between systems, and hence, IoT or any technologies in that matter are not supported or implementation is costly and time consuming.

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What are Container Terminals?

| PORT LOGISTICS EXPERTS

container-terminals-fundamental-terminsContainer Terminals – overview of fundamentally terms

During a training session about the simulation tool CHESSCON for the Indonesian university “Shipbuilding Institute of Polytechnic Surabaya” Prof. Dr. Ing. Holger Schütt held a presentation about container terminal operation in general. It is based on his lessons at the University of Applied Sciences Bremerhaven.

He explained fundamentally terms as quay side, horizontal transport and hinterland as well as some innovations like blok beam or the container ropeway. Besides that, he gives an overview about typical processes and the various equipment types at the terminal. To visualize the topics, he uses photos from his visits to terminals all over the world (e.g. Shanghai, Busan, Jebel Ali, Tacoma, Long Beach, Durban and others).

Easy to understand and vividly presented.

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