iTerminals 4.0 launched to boost box port digitalisation

The iTerminals 4.0 project has been kickstarted with its first meeting – and the focus is on digitalising port operations and adopting ‘Industry 4.0’ technologies within the container-handling sector.

This initiative comprises a study with pilot deployment in real operations at European port-container terminals.

The project is funded by the Connecting Europe Facility Program of the European Commission and co-ordinated by the Fundación Valenciaport.

A statement explained “The development of the fourth industrial revolution in the last decade (Industry 4.0) is progressively introducing new technologies and the adoption of concepts like internet of things, big data, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics and automation, which are transforming the industry and society. In this sense, the port industry is not taking advantage of the benefits and impacts derived from the digital transformation due to the low degree of implementation of such technologies and digital solutions.”

A “wide range of transversal benefits” is expected from digitally transforming container port operations in terms of operational efficiency increase, safety and cyber security improvement, costs reduction and carbon footprint decrease.

New IoT solutions and operational pilots will be developed and performed at eight strategic container terminals based on eight core network ports of the Trans-European Transport Network: Antwerp, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Rouen, Malta, Sines and Genoa.

Pilot activities will serve to improve, adapt and demonstrate the proposed solutions to test their feasibility, sustainability aand benefits before deploying them on a large scale. A statement explained that the project will test and evaluate advanced Industry 4.0 pilots applied to the operational environment of port-container terminals, including upgrading port equipment’s sensor networks, advanced big data and predictive analytics design, applying artificial intelligence and providing business intelligence models and real-time dynamic KPI reporting.