Suez Canal Terminal Boosts Efficiency

APM Terminals announced that its Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) at Port Said, Egypt has achieved major efficiencies in yard and quay operations after fine tuning the Navis N4 Expert Decking Module, the system which automates yard planning.

According to the Hague-headquartered international container terminal operating company, the system is used to automate planning by distributing containers throughout the yard based on predefined rules.

"Typically yard planning is extremely time-consuming, costly and inaccurate. The Navis system aims to optimise the storage of containers in the most efficient manner, leaving more time for users to manage the yard," it said in a press release.

At the SCCT, staff focused on dwell times for transhipment containers. Each container was examined, the dwell time assessed and a class was then assigned. Containers with shorter dwell times were assigned a yard lane closer to the berth.

"This approach resulted in quay cranes being utilised more efficiently and trucks travelling shorter distances. Savings in equipment running costs, maintenance & repair, and staffing were also achieved. Following piloting and testing, it was then rolled out across the yard over a 20-week period," it said.

The new efficiencies achieved by the SCCT are the latest in a series of continuous improvement, the release said.

"The terminal has become a hub for excellence in training within APM Terminals and the staff are recognised as being eager to share their knowledge with colleagues across the rest of the company," the port operator claimed.