China Ranks First Globally For Intelligent Port Development

China has claimed the top spot worldwide for intelligent port development, with 52 automated container and dry bulk terminals built so far.

The number of automated terminals under construction also ranks first globally, as per the country’s Ministry of Transport.

A fully automated container terminal at Qingdao Port in Shandong Province exemplifies China’s advancements. On January 1, 2024, a vessel docked at the terminal, and bridge cranes seamlessly loaded containers onto automated guided vehicles.

High-speed rail-mounted gantry cranes efficiently stacked incoming containers. A port manager stated that the terminal’s operational efficiency has increased by 6% with container throughput rising by 15%.

The terminal, developed in three phases since 2015, completed its third phase in late 2023.

Its bridge cranes achieved an average handling rate of 60.9 container units per hour, breaking the global efficiency record for automated container terminals for the 12th time.

Similarly, Yantai Port in Shandong Province has realised full-process automation at its ore terminal. Automation has boosted unloading and loading efficiencies by over 20% compared to traditional methods.

Technical standards for container, coal, and ore terminals have been formulated and are being applied in ports internationally.

Between January and November 2024, China’s ports processed 16.04 billion tonnes of cargo, showing a 3.4% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Container volumes reached 300 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), marking a 7.3% year-on-year growth.

The Ministry of Transport said that China has mastered key technologies in design, construction, equipment manufacturing, system integration and operational management for automated terminals.

These achievements are transforming traditional terminals into intelligent ones.

China has also established world-class port clusters in regions like the Bohai Rim, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area.

The country also plans to enhance its top-level design and evaluation and make port services smarter and more resilient.

Reference: People’s Daily Online

Source: Maritime Shipping News