Study on Comparing the Performance of Fully Automated Container Terminals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Major ports worldwide suffered from various problems such as labor shortage, port congestion, and global supply chain disruptions during COVID-19. To ensure stable operations of ports in such scenarios, one option is to adopt fully automated terminals. This study aimed at evaluating the performance of fully automated terminals compared with that of non-fully automated ones during the disrupted logistics due to coronavirus. Four ports that simultaneously operate both fully and non-fully automated terminals were selected. The performance of the target terminals was measured based on quantitative factors: throughput, number of ship arrivals, and berthing time. The results showed that the fully automated container terminals present better operational performance than the non-fully automated terminals. The former achieved large increments in the throughput, small decreases in the berthing time per ship, and increases in the number of ship arrivals. Moreover, there were economic benefits, revealing that the total terminal profit at the fully automated terminals was significantly increased, whereas that at the non-fully automated ones decreased based on berthing times. Therefore, fully automated terminals can be considered as alternatives for responding flexibly and stably during crises such as COVID-19.

Ordenando indicadores operacionais de terminais contêiner

“…This result signalizes that seaport's managers are aware of the impact that operational and workforce costs may cause in the seaport competitiveness. With that in mind, many ports are investing in new equipment and technologies, especially the automated seaports (Kim, Kim, & Kang, 2022). *CI= 0,0041; RI(4) = 0,9; CR = 0,0046.…”

Examining the Response to COVID-19 in Logistics and Supply Chain Processes: Insights from a State-of-the-Art Literature Review and Case Study Analysis

“…This result is probably due to the importance of information sharing during transportation activities; that sharing is increasingly possible in real-time, thanks to new technologies. In addition, in the maritime sector, for example, increasing emphasis is placed on the use of fully automated logistics terminals [112]. The top five industrial contexts, by number of articles, which also include sustainability considerations are shown in Table 4; again, the logistics sector is the most populous.…”

Improvement of Container Dynamic Allocation for Automated Container Terminals in the Post-Epidemic Era

“…Constraint (4) implies that the assigned export containers consist of containers to be loaded both within and outside the decision period. Constraint (5) ensures that the allocated export stacks fulfill the requirements of each vessel during each time period. Constraint (6) guarantees that the total number of stacks assigned to each bay satisfies the demand for export stacks to be loaded within that time period.…”

“…Consequently, ports are compelled to explore strategies for reducing staff numbers and enhancing operational efficiency [4]. Automation of container terminals has emerged as a prominent pathway to address these challenges [5]. The implementation of advanced intelligent automation technology offers substantial benefits in terms of reducing ports' operational and maintenance costs and fostering innovative approaches to port development.…”