Gate Automation News

The port and terminal operator International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) said that  its flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT)  recently took delivery of another new quay crane (QC) and eight new hybrid rubber tired gantries (RTGs).According to a press release, the terminal has the largest fleet of modern container-handling equipment in the Philippines today with 18 QCs and 58 RTGs.Manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. (ZPMC), the QC is part of the five from ICTSI’s 2018 USD80-million capacity improvement program package. With a reach of up to 16 rows across twin, the new QC can service the largest feeder vessels calling the Philippines.

NASCENT Technology, a leading provider of gate automation and related technologies, has announced that it has been selected by TraPac, LLC. to provide the automated gate system and OCR portals for their gate expansion in the Port of Oakland, CA. NASCENT will provide 16 truck gate kiosks (pedestals), 12 Yard kiosks, and 2 kiosks to be used within the Driver’s Assistance area within the facility. Of the 16 gate lanes, 9 of these are new lanes that are being built as part of the gate expansion. In addition, NASCENT will also be providing and integrating with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) Portals at both the In-bound and out-bound gate complexes.

Marine terminal operator DP World, UAE Region, has reached an agreement with an affiliate of The Dow Chemical Company based in Jebel Ali to support the distribution of Dow‘s products. The contract was signed recently by Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of DP World, UAE Region, and Moosa Al-Moosa, President of Dow UAE in Jebel Ali in the presence of senior officials from both organizations. Under the agreement, DP World will provide Dow with value-added services such as Jebel Ali Port’s storage facilities and shipping to its customers globally.

Global marine terminal operator DP World today announced that its new Container Terminal 3 at its flagship Jebel Ali Port is making good progress with the arrival of 5 new quay cranes and half of its 19 automated cranes being tested before the start of initial operations in the next few weeks. The 4 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent container units) capacity of Terminal 3, makes it the world’s largest semi-automated facility once fully operational. Terminal 3 has seen a number of developments since its inauguration by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in January.

Adds Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Gate Automation to its Crane and Harbor systems portfolio. ABB completed its acquisition of San Diego-based APS Technology Group (APS).  The acquisition adds optical character recognition (OCR) and gate automation capabilities to further improve safety, productivity and efficiency of port operations as containerized shipping grows worldwide. APS, an 11-year-old, 50-person company with offices in San Diego and Long Beach, Calif., will join ABB’s Crane and Harbor automation business. No major changes to staffing and product offerings are planned. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

At the Brazilian container terminals Tecon Salvador and Tecon Rio Grande both part of the Wilson Sons Group, Cargotec is integrating the SmartLanes process automation solution for gate automation. SmartLanes is part of the process automation offering of the Cargotec SmartPort concept and is delivered in partnership with APS Technology Group, part of Cargotec SmartPort Alliance. Wilson Sons is one of the largest operators in port, maritime and logistics services in Brazil. With its activities having started in 1837 in Salvador, the company has established itself as a well-known service provider. At the two terminals the company operates it was decided to introduce gate OCR technology to improve both security and productivity by improving the information quality and reducing human error.

The completion of the first phase of Jeddah Islamic Port's newest world-class container facility, Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), was celebrated on 22 December 2009 with the arrival of UASC's Vessel Al Muttanabi. Located at the northern end of the Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP), work at the two billion Saudi Riyal (approx USD 510MM) Greenfield container-terminal, commenced in January 2008. The 1.8 million TEU, second-generation terminal constructed under a BOT agreement with the Saudi Port Authority, is due to be fully completed by Q3 2010.