China and Arab countries working together to build smart container terminals

Dubai, February 29th (Reporter Guan Kejiang) - Amidst the busy COSCO Shipping port Abu Dhabi Terminal, multiple bridge cranes are simultaneously loading and unloading goods, accompanied by beeps and beeps. A truck with a white front end was dragging a container at a constant speed - unlike other trucks, there was no common windshield in the front end, and the driver could not be seen, only a bar display screen showing the driving status. "This is our unmanned container truck," said Chen Yuping, General Manager of COSCO Shipping Port Abu Dhabi Terminal Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China COSCO Shipping Group. "This truck will deliver the container to the yard according to instructions."
The situation at the dock is constantly changing, how can unmanned trucks identify roads? Chen Yuping introduced that unmanned trucks use satellite navigation, supplemented by LiDAR to detect surrounding conditions. After receiving instructions from the central control room, it can operate continuously without sleep, with a maximum charging capacity of 24 hours and a maximum load capacity of 80 tons. At present, there are a total of 7 unmanned container trucks and over 60 manned container trucks operating together at the port. At the International Maritime Awards Ceremony held in Shanghai at the end of last year, COSCO Shipping Port Abu Dhabi Terminal won the "Port Terminal Innovation Award". Its highlight was the introduction of unmanned trucks for the first time in the Middle East, which improved the efficiency and safety of terminal operations and reduced environmental impact.
The COSCO Shipping Port Abu Dhabi Terminal is located within the Port of Abu Dhabi, and is jointly operated by COSCO Shipping Port and the Abu Dhabi Port Authority. It opened in December 2018 and is designed to have an annual processing capacity of 2.5 million TEUs. Through the joint efforts of China and Arab countries, the throughput of the port continues to increase, reaching 1.35 million standard containers in 2023, an increase of over 30% compared to the previous year. At present, the port has opened more than 20 international routes, connecting more than 60 ports.

COSCO Shipping Port Abu Dhabi Terminal is the most automated terminal in the Middle East region. The reporter arrived at the central control room of the dock. On the big screen is a dynamic image of a virtual dock. "This is our integrated dock safety monitoring and management system. We have created an advanced digital dock management system by installing over 600 sensors and OCR devices installed throughout the dock to collect real-time data, combined with digital twin technology. Each image here corresponds to the corresponding facilities and equipment of the dock, and every working dynamic of the equipment on the dock will be reflected on the screen in real time."

In front of another control panel, a staff member named Majid is using two joysticks similar to game controllers to check the working status of the automated track crane in the yard. "The container loading and unloading actions are all automatically completed by the equipment. I just need to confirm the accuracy of the operation through the monitoring system." Majid, from Abu Dhabi, has just started working for a year. He said that the UAE is located at a transportation hub between the East and the West, and with the help of many international partners such as COSCO Shipping, it is becoming a hub platform for more goods trade, which makes him feel that his work is very meaningful.
It is reported that COSCO Shipping Port Abu Dhabi Terminal has established and implemented ten digital and automation projects, including terminal operation system, shore bridge intelligent cargo handling system, yard equipment control system, and vehicle work instruction terminal system, effectively improving the productivity and service quality of terminal operation. Mohammed Tamimi, Deputy General Manager of COSCO Shipping Port Abu Dhabi Terminal, said that with the deepening of the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" between Afghanistan and China, economic and trade exchanges will be closer. COSCO Shipping Port Abu Dhabi Terminal will continue to improve its level of port intelligence, helping Arab China economic and trade cooperation reach a new level.
On the day of the interview, it was the time when the COSCO Shipping Galaxy docked at the port. The COSCO Shipping Galaxy departed from Qingdao Port on February 2nd, loaded with cars, fruits, meat, daily necessities, etc., passing through Shanghai Port, Ningbo Port, etc. The next stop will be to Dammam, Saudi Arabia. As a part of COSCO Shipping's one-stop "Tai Lian" service of "shipping+port+overseas station", there is also a batch of Chery Jetour vehicles transported by Shandong Port Group on board the "COSCO Shipping Galaxy" ship, which will be sold to customers in West Asia and North Africa through its overseas warehouse located in COSCO Shipping Port Abu Dhabi. Huo Gaoyuan, Chairman of Shandong Port Group, stated that ports are windows and hubs connecting the world, and about 90% of international trade goods are transported through ports for transshipment. Shandong Port will accelerate its overseas business expansion to help deepen China's economic and trade cooperation with the Middle East.