APM Terminals’ new Maasvlakte II facility was named the winner of the “Innovation of the Year” award at the 4th Annual Containerisation International Awards ceremony held in London yesterday, in recognition of the industry-changing technological advances represented by the world’s first fully-automated and emissions-free, sustainably-powered container terminal. The advanced terminal design and operating concept incorporated landside operations as an integral component with seaside operations, providing for efficient, seamless movement across all modalities to improve efficiency, maximize productivity, enhance safety and reduce CO2 and other harmful emissions.
Officially opened in April with an initial annual capacity of 1.3 million TEUs, APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, was specifically designed to accommodate vessels of over 18,000 TEU capacity, employing a computerized terminal operating system integrated with Equipment Control System for automated vehicles and cranes. The container terminal is the world’s first designed to use remote-controlled Ship-to-Shore gantry cranes, with eight high-speed super post-Panamax cranes transferring containers onto and off of a fleet of battery–powered Lift-Automated Guided Vehicles, which in turn transport containers to and from storage racks served by Automated Rail Mounted Gantry cranes. The advanced automation and operations increase productivity and safety, while the container handling equipment is sustainably powered by wind-generated electricity, eliminating the noise and harmful emissions associated with conventional diesel engine-powered operations.
Global container throughput is projected to surpass one billion TEUs within seven years, increasingly relying upon Ultra-Large Container Ships of 18,000 TEU capacity and above.
Also of interest, last week in Rotterdam, APM Terminals Maasvlakte II picked up another award for one of their employees. The port community selected Jan Peeman as ”Port Employee of the year” based on his “secure and innovative work and collegiality”. Jan is one of the first remote crane operators at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II to operate Ship to Shore (STS) cranes - and is trainer and mentor to fellow remote crane operators.