FROM OPERATORS TO TECHNICIANS: THIS IS HOW PORT WORK CHANGES WITH AUTOMATION

The Mary Maersk is one of the moving objects ever built, since 2013 this ship manages to transport up to 18,000 containers per voyage. What stands out about it is that it is never empty, as soon as they finish unloading the goods it transported, there are already new containers being loaded.

Ships like these reflected the need to automate ports and implement new technologies at port bases, as ports are required to work 24/7. The Yangshan Port in China is the epitome of automation, it is the largest port in the world in terms of cargo volume, which you can see unloading containers non-stop 24 hours a day.

The most impressive thing is not the amount of cargo volume handled there, but how it operates. It is a fully automated port where you see very few humans working (almost none).

One of the biggest controversies that port automation causes is human intervention, on the one hand, there is the advantage of less dependence on operators, but on the other hand, jobs are lost.

Advantages and disadvantages of port automation

Among its advantages are greater operational efficiency, cost reduction, environmental sustainability and increased safety.

However, this transition faces challenges such as the impact on employment, high implementation costs, increased cyber risks, and the reluctance of workers and companies to modernize their processes.

Regarding the impact on employment, the port sector still sees some opportunities. When cranes drive themselves, humans now repair what they used to operate. Autonomous vehicles cannot repair themselves, and that is where human intervention comes in.

Technologies being implemented

The transformation of ports seeks to accelerate maritime operations, but also aims to improve traceability, sustainability and collaboration between all actors in the logistics chain.

· Integrated digital platforms such as Port Community Systems allow coordinating customs agents, port authorities, shipping companies and carriers in the same system, so everyone can have real-time traceability of the container.

· Automated cranes and autonomous vehicles support the loading and unloading of goods without the need for direct human intervention. This has allowed the ports to work 24 hours a day non-stop. Inturn, they allow a transfer from the dock to the storage area with a lower risk of accidents.

· Environmental impact and sustainability are issues that are being mitigated with the implementation of new technologies. Some ports have begun to monitor water temperature and soil conditions with IoT sensors, so they can reduce the environmental impact oftheir operations.

· Blockchain and AI are used to generate predictions and make more accurate decisions. At the same time, it allows documenting each process to minimize fraud and try to avoid any human error inthe documentation.

Given this scenario, we face social and economic challenges, where we can find new opportunities to grow the sector. Ports are witnessing a lot of pressure to operate with greater sustainability, efficiency and safety.