Container Shipping as an IOT

 A look at container shipping.   Not too different than we did a decade ago, except in the specific use of the data generated and logged. 

Container shipping goes digital—4 ways port authorities and terminal operators boost throughput and security

By Wei Zou in Cisco.com  (overview then more) 

As I write this, 31 vessels are anchored and waiting for berths at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. It’s a sign of increasing congestion around the world, caused by a surge in imports, worker shortages, and shutdowns at Chinese ports due to COVID-19. Congestion plus a 900% increase in cyberattacks on maritime systems add up to an urgent problem for the world’s supply chains.

There is good news, however. Innovative port authorities and terminal operators are increasing efficiency, throughput, safety, and security by connecting people, equipment, and applications over Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul. Below, we are providing four top ways IIoT (industrial internet of things) is transforming terminal operations.

1 – Terminal automation with terminal operating systems

To accommodate mega-ships and increase throughput, terminal operators are automating certain manual processes. The engine for automation is a terminal operating system (TOS) that controls container movement around the port or terminal. For example, automating berth planning, yard operations, and gate operations helps improve utilization of assets, labor, and equipment.

Here’s how it works: Information flows between the TOS in the server room to moving assets over Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul. Those assets can include vessels, trains, trucks, and container-handling equipment (CHE) like quay cranes, rubber-tired gantries (RTGs), auto straddle carriers, rail-mounted gantries (RMG), etc.

Leading the way, Malta Freeport connects its TOS to 250 quayside cranes and RTGs moving up to 25 miles per hour over our ultra-reliable wireless backhaul. The TOS sends job orders to crane operators via a monitor on the crane. When operators finish the job, they update their status and continue on to the next job. This eliminates idle time between jobs and increases productivity and throughput .... '