Qingdao Port's automated pulp terminal put into use

The full-process automated pulp terminal at Qingdao Port was put into operation on July 6, marking a significant milestone in the port's intelligent operation. This achievement signifies the successful implementation of smart operations through the entire process for all types of cargo, including containers, dry bulk cargo, general cargo and liquid bulk cargo. 

At the automated pulp terminal of Qingdao Port, a cargo carrier loaded with pulp is currently being unloaded through fully automated operations. Unmanned driving equipment such as automatic guided vehicles and automatic telescopic forklifts are moving smoothly, unloading goods accurately and efficiently in accordance with the optimal driving route calculated by real-time intelligent instructions. In a remote control room hundreds of meters away, the crane operators control gantry cranes by simply pressing buttons and steering a joystick.

"Previously, due to low standardization for general cargo and difficulties in collecting operation information, pulp operation required many on-site workers to interact with the machine, leading to inefficiencies and safety risks. Now, with digital technologies enabling intelligent information collection and autonomous driving equipment, we have transformed the on-site blue-collar workers into white-collar ones," said Zhang Qi, deputy general manager of Qingdao Qianwan West Port United Terminal at Qingdao Port. 

The entire automated process has separated human-yard, human-cargo, and human-machine, resulting in a 20-percent improvement in handling efficiency and an 80-percent decrease in staff workload at the pulp terminal.