| Written by Mark Buzinkay

Operational reliability is essential for container terminals. In an environment where even a minor disruption can cause significant delays and troubles, terminal operators must do everything they can to ensure that their operations run smoothly. One way to improve operational reliability is by making use of information technology. IT can be used in several ways to automate processes, track data, and manage maintenance, all of which can help improve the overall reliability of container terminal operations.
Operations reliability of container terminals
 

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Operations reliability essential in times of global supply chains

As global shipping has grown rapidly in the last 40 years, and at the same time, container ship size has increased in recent years due to shipbuilding technology and the idea of economy of scale, container terminals had to follow the trend and improve their facilities continously. Bigger ships mean more containers in peak times, putting stress on port infrastructure and workforce to keep a tight schedule for unloading and loadings these giant ships.

But more boxes at once create more complicated loading and unloading plans for ports. Moreover, the inefficient transfer of containers from the ship to the loading area is a significant problem faced in container-handling facilities. In total, 3928 million twenty equivalent units (TEUs) were carried out on the northwestern European container ports in 2019. This is an increase of 34% compared to the volumes in 2010, emphasizing the importance of container transportation for the international market. Clearly, the focus of improving efficiency was put on container terminal logistics.

Operations reliability and contributing factors

Ports are constantly facing the challenges of uncertainty in services which leads to disruptions in meeting the needs of their customers. The main source of this uncertainty is the schedule variability of deep-sea vessels which can lead to changes in the time and order of container arrivals. This disrupts the planned stacking areas for inbound and outbound containers and makes it difficult for port operators to allocate the proper resources for each container. As a result, operational efficiency is decreased, and competitiveness among ports is lowered. In order to overcome these challenges, ports must develop new strategies for handling customer demand that is more flexible and adaptable to changing conditions.

Some of the challenges to the container terminals' operations reliability are:

  • Uncertainty of ships' exact arrival time (in general, the planners of a container terminal can plan QCs/YCs worklist only a few hours prior to vessel arrivals);

  • Container terminal operators are unable to process further container transport modes (they don't know if the containers are going further with another deep-sea vessel, barge, rail, or road transport);

  • Most importantly, if they use more SCs at a peak time, there will be congestion of SCs.

 

To overcome these challenges, terminals should consider using a dynamic unloading/loading planning procedure to minimize SCs queuing or disarranging and to maximize the container terminal's overall equipment effectiveness (learn also how to optimize bulk handling). This will help ensure that containers are transported promptly and efficiently. Additionally, container handling equipment must coordinate their activities dynamically and adaptively. Therefore, support from IT in the form of IIoT is necessary. Learn more about predictive planning in ports.

 

Operations reliability and container handling equipment

There are many ways to improve port terminal operations, but one of the most important is to ensure the harmony of different container-handling equipment. By coordinating the use of quay cranes (QCs), container transportation vehicles (CTVs), straddle carriers (SCs), and yard cranes (YCs), it is possible to improve efficiency and avoid potential bottlenecks greatly.

One way to optimize efficiency is to schedule when each type of equipment will be used carefully. For example, QCs can be used for unloading containers from ships, while CTVs can be used for transporting containers around the terminal. SCs and YCs can then be used for loading and unloading containers onto trucks or trains.

It is also essential to make sure that the different types of equipment are compatible with each other. For example, QCs and CTVs should be able to communicate with each other so that containers can be unloaded from ships and then quickly transported around the terminal. Similarly, SCs and YCs should be able to work together so that containers can be efficiently loaded and unloaded. By making sure that all the different types of equipment are compatible with each other, it is possible to improve efficiency further. Overall, this can lead to shorter wait times for ships, faster turnaround times for trucks and trains, and, ultimately, happier customers.

 

Operations reliability and IT

As your container terminal grows, so do the number of containers, assets and people you need to manage. To keep things running smoothly, you need a digital assistant that can help you plan and schedule your operations. Look for a solution that is designed to integrate into your container terminal's IT landscape, making it a core part of your operations. You should be able to plan shifts in advance, adjust and reserve vehicles and workforce, and easily promote jobs. Thanks to its plug-and-play compatibility with your TOS and easy installation by a Professional Services team, the perfect solution for busy terminals streamlines operations rather than makes them unflexible.

A job promotion functionality is essential for operational reliability and safety as it automatically gives tasks to container handling equipment, identifies trucks and eliminates the need for drivers to search through a long job list. Real-time location data is also critical for ensuring efficient and safe operations as it allows for the semi-automation of processes such as handover between cranes and CHE or external haulage control. With the control of twist-locks, no unexpected container moves are permitted, making lost containers a thing of the past and giving you real-time data at the gate, yard, and quay. Such an advanced system also allows you to control access to your terminal, dedicated zones and vehicles. By optimizing crane usage, box movements and vehicle traffic, your IT ensures safe and efficient container handling and operations reliability for all stakeholders: dockers, management, and clients.

Read more about Port Position Detection System

 

Takeaway

Operational reliability at container terminals can be increased with the help of IT in a number of ways. One way is by automating processes and tasks that are currently manual, error-prone, and time-consuming. This can help to eliminate human errors and improve efficiency. Another way to use IT to improve operational reliability is by investing in real-time data tracking and analysis. This can help managers to identify potential problems and issues early on before they cause disruptions to operations. Finally, implementing a comprehensive maintenance management system can also help to improve operational reliability by ensuring that all equipment is adequately maintained and serviced. Container terminals can improve their overall reliability and avoid costly disruptions by taking these steps and heading towards port terminal automation.

Port Terminal Operations and Efficiency Whitepaper

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