Port Technology

The ship is understandably what one initially thinks of when they consider technological advancements made in the shipping industry. But what about those massive centers of trade, which must coordinate the exchange of millions of tons of goods every year? Ports can be thought of as the heart of the shipping industry, and the technology and systems they utilize are always being improved.

Container Cranes

When a big container ship docks at a port, it’s there to deliver goods. But how do the hundreds of shipping containers get from the ship’s deck to where they need to be in the port? That’s where container cranes come in. It’s not as easy as making one crane design, however, and having a plant crank out hundreds of the same model.

Each set of container cranes has to be specific to a particular port, and even a particular area in a port, since each is a different size and has difference specs. These cranes are also being designed to handle different sizes of containers simultaneously, as well as larger amounts of containers—one make of crane can pick up 18 containers at a time.

Integrated Technology

As you can imagine, with ports that handle millions of tons of cargo a year, there’s no single man standing near the water directing each vessel into the port. Instead, computers handle the coordination of ships in and out of the shipyard, as well as the business transactions involved in moving the shipments. Some ports share software with other ports, so that they may easily exchange data about shipments. Private ports are also linked into government systems, so that customs may easily access the shipping data.

Electronic Port Technology:

  • Total port operating systems coordinate the entry of ships, business data, yard space, the use of labor, handling equipment, and more
  • Data exchange programs share vital information with other ports
  • Port computer programs link in with government systems and share shipping information
  • Shippers use hand held computers to input their shipping information remotely

 

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