Standard V/s Automated Container Terminals In The Shipping Industry

By Author: LOTUS Containers
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Automated container terminals are digitally equipped maritime infrastructures that help in minimising human input in naval operations. Compared to standard container terminals, automated terminals are efficient ways of reducing human errors and offer excellent safety while carrying out maritime operations. Let us look into how the advanced and newer automated terminals differ from standard ones.

What are container terminals?

Container terminals are maritime facilities inside or near shipping ports facilitating intermodal transportation. A container terminal is a platform that allows easy transfer of cargo transhipment between two modes of transport and promotes global trade. The shipping containers arriving at the ports are towed to container terminals through forklifts or cranes for temporary storage. Every port has at least one terminal, which may vary depending on the port's capacity to handle shipping traffic. Ports with multiple terminals are equipped to handle various types of cargo, which defines the port's efficiency.

Features of efficient container terminals

- Container terminals ...
... should have a relatively large yard to host multiple shipping containers simultaneously to allow faster port operations.
- A terminal with a direct network of highways and railways helps in the easy and on-time shipment.
- A sufficient supply of storage resources, equipment and vehicles must always be available to handle an influx of shipping containers.
- Workers operating the vehicles and equipment must have complete knowledge and training.

Operations at container terminals

1- After unloading, the cargo containers are brought to terminals for temporary storage until departure.
2- The container terminal must have an excellent logistic network to link to roads and railway lines directly to itself for secure intermodal shipping.
3- Container repairs and maintenance processes may also be carried out at container terminals to avoid port congestion.
4- It is also the site for container inspections, documentation and customs clearances to allow timely initiation of cargo transhipment.

Importance of container terminals

Time-saving - Since most operations are carried out at the container terminal, much time gets saved.
Reduces congestion - The time-consuming yet necessary tasks can be easily accommodated on terminals rather than performing them on the shipping port, which would otherwise cause port congestion.
Storage - Short-term storage of shipments provides enough time for haulers to load the cargo and initiate transshipment.

What is a Container Terminal Management System?

CTMS, or Container Terminal Operating System, handles all terminal operations efficiently and effectively. Container Terminal is vital in the logistics industry and the supply chain. Since they are capital intensive, they require proper management to ensure benefits to the traders. CTMS advises, manages and regulates the invested money in arranging and maintaining required assets such as equipment, vehicles and laborer's. They help to formulate plans and frameworks to facilitate heavy traffic management at terminals to ensure the constant and proper fulfilment of the supply chain.

Standard v/s automated container terminals

A standard or conventional container terminal in the shipping industry is a terminal where the operations are performed manually. While in automated container terminals, human input is minimized, and technology-driven services are given supremacy.
In traditional container terminals, carrying cargo containers from the quay to the yard is done by vehicles and equipment governed by a skilled and efficient workforce. While in automated container terminals, technology is utilised to perform tasks. Transferring shipping containers between the quay and the yard is done via digitally empowered technology monitored by skilled and trained workers.
Standard terminals risk chances of port congestion as it takes time to manually unload cargo containers on the quay and bring them to the yard. At the same time, automated container terminals offer greater efficiency and productivity since primary operations are handled by technology and are favorable for transferring large shipments within less time.
The chances of human errors and port-side accidents get minimised in the case of automated terminals. The cargo transfer is done via wired and laser-paved fixed paths governed by GPS and monitored via computer.

Benefits of automated container terminals

Automation of container terminals boosts port efficiency and enhances the logistic processes, thereby impacting the maritime sector.
1- Growth of shipping network - Automated port terminals can provide more efficient and reliable services than conventional container terminals. Larger ships can be diverted to automated ports to utilise their assets and offer better services to the traders.
2- Upgradation of terminal resources - Automation pushes container terminals towards upgrading their resources by improving their facilities to accommodate technological advancement. Better equipment and resources help increase terminal flows and transshipment velocity.
3- Future closure of standard terminals - Automated terminals may soon become a dominant trend in the shipping industry. Under such circumstances, terminals that fail to switch to automation will be less productive and may not be valued, leading to their complete closures.

Automated Container Terminals are a current and future trend that will ultimately evolve the global ways of shipping. Many ports have already begun introducing automated terminals to improve supply chain efficiency and provide traders with reliable and sustainable services.

LOTUS Containers is a prominent shipping container company with a network of 300+ container depots to offer sustainable and efficient services to consumers. We engage in selling, leasing and container buyback services.

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