Robot fever has also gripped one of Europe's major ports. Known since the 90s for its automation, in 2015, the port of rotterdam now has its first fully automated container terminal. The new area is controlled by APM Terminals, which, in Brazil, has container terminals in Pecém (CE) and Itajaí (SC).
Figure 1 – In 2011, robots already called the attention of the International Mission group organized by ILOS
Source: ILOS
Following the amazon line, the APM terminal in Rotterdam uses robots to optimize the operation, in addition to increasing worker safety. Eight electric cranes load/unload the ships, with the operators located in a control room, where the eight control stations are located with a joystick and six screens per crane. The system also has 62 robot trucks responsible for moving containers through the storage yards and for the trucks and trains that will take them out of the port.
The new fully automated terminal would be a response to customers, who had been asking APM Terminals for greater agility in loading and unloading ships. Although they are not faster than the most modern non-automated cranes in operation, the new equipment from APM Terminals should bring a growth of up to 50% in the handling of containers when the terminal is fully operational, as they minimize the human errors that traditionally exist in this type of operation.
Video 2 – Automated container handling operation at the APM terminal
Source: ECT Rotterdam
Initially, the expectation is that the new APM terminal will handle 2,7 million TEUs in its first year of operation, reaching 4,5 million TEUs when fully operational. Just as a basis for comparison, in 2015, the entire port of Rotterdam handled just over 12 million TEUs.
References:
<http://fortune.com/2015/12/21/rotterdam-port-robots-strike/>
<https://www.portofrotterdam.com/>
<http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/160340/video-grand-opening-of-apm-terminal-maasvlakte-ii/>
Alexandre Lobo
https://ilos.com.brGraduated in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and in Social Communication from Faculdades Integradas Hélio Alonso (FACHA). Expertise in several projects with emphasis on market analysis for companies such as Unilever, Intertank, Invepar, Aqces, Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.
