The Future of Terminal Technology
Tideworks Technology President Michael Schwank discusses the changes he sees coming in the years ahead for port and rail terminals

Q: What are future challenges for port terminal operators over the next 10 (or 20) years?
Schwank: We believe terminal operators will have to continue to be more efficient to compete; they will need to continue to keep costs down and productivity up. As land continues to be at a premium in more mature markets, and becomes scarcer in developing markets, yard densities will continue to increase. Security issues will remain a primary concern over the next several years.

Environmental concerns and regulation compliance will be on the forefront and take on ever-increasing importance; being “green” will no longer be considered innovative, but rather a necessity and a driving force in many of the decisions facing terminal operators. Finally, we see terminals becoming more connected with inland logistics — helping provide customers complete visibility of the entire supply chain.
 
Q: What types of technology do you see coming on board and/or expanding over the next decade and beyond?
Schwank: Technology will play a key role in addressing the challenges faced by port and terminal operators. It will play an important role in addressing environmental issues at seaports; clean, alternative fuels for handling equipment, cold-ironing for vessels, etc.
Other technical advances in handling equipment to augment productivity and handle increasing vessel sizes (as the vessel operators/carriers look to continue deriving the most benefit from ‘economies of scale’) will also be crucial � e.g., larger, faster quay cranes, yard cranes (RTGs), etc. Advances in technical security — less intrusive scanning technologies, the deployment of better
identification and authentication systems (e.g., TWIC program) — will play a major role in addressing security concerns.

Terminal Operating System (TOS) software will also play a significant role in addressing challenges faced by port and terminal operators over the next 10 to 20 years. An effective TOS can help automate many of the processes on the terminal — from gate activity, to stacking operations, to vessel stowage � thereby maximizing the resources (human, equipment, and land) of the facility while increasing productivity. This allows the port or terminal to handle more volume with the same resources, keeping costs down.

Additionally, the right TOS technology can aid port and terminal operators in complying with security and environmental regulations. Faster truck turn times mean less exhaust from trucks queuing/idling at gates. Improved data security helps advance the goal of cargo security.
 
Q: What kind of needs/challenges will rail terminals be addressing?
Schwank: Although they face some unique requirements, rail terminals will be addressing many of the same challenges the marine terminals are facing. Doing more with the same amount of resources, improving productivity, and meeting regulation requirements, while keeping costs down, will all be crucial. To this end, we see many of the intermodal rail terminals continuing to move to stacked (vs. the traditional “wheeled”) operations in order to increase yard density and maximize the utilization of land. This requires an investment from the railroads in (environmentally friendly) stacking equipment as well as the right systems to manage the operations.
 
Q. What kind of technologies do you see being adapted by rail terminals in the future?
Schwank: Over the past several years, we have seen many of the large railroads investing heavily in various technologies at their intermodal facilities to enhance terminal security and improve efficiency. We foresee that these investments will only increase over the next decade and beyond as the railroads adapt to meet the challenges of increasing intermodal volumes (current economic downturn notwithstanding) and ever stricter environmental and security related regulations.

From a technology standpoint, running an efficient rail terminal starts with the basics � enterprise operations software. Rail terminal operators need reliable and scalable terminal operation systems from a proven and dependable technology partner. Once the right core is in place, additional technologies can be added to further enhance operations.

For example, many railroads are investing in Automated Gate Systems (AGS) to expedite truck processing, improve worker safety, and capture images for damage inspection. The AGS often includes self-service kiosks, CCTV cameras, or even Optical Character Recognition to automate data capture of equipment identification numbers as well as for inspection purposes. We also see Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS), whether based on GPS or RFID, becoming more prevalent. These tools can aid in automating container tracking/inventory control as well as the monitoring of container handling equipment.

Q: What types of technology will Tideworks focus on in the future?
Schwank: We have devoted much of our resources and R&D to enhancing our toolset available for intermodal rail operations.

Other developments you will see in the near future include:
• Additional automation tools (e.g., “one click” auto stowage for container vessels)
• Enhancements to our monitoring tools, such as Terminal View � a three-dimensional, real-time equipment and terminal monitoring tool in our Traffic Control product
• Significant improvements to our general cargo and multi-purpose terminal management system

We recently developed a Web-based, graphical tool for break bulk cargo planning and storage space allocation, and we will soon provide the ability to graphically plan container movements at multi-purpose marine terminals as well.

In This Issue

New Items

Time for the Tough to Get Going

Supply Chain
Real Estate Responds to Supply Chain Shifts

Taking Your Ship to an IP Environment

Compliance Corner: SOPs, the Foundation of Trade Compliance

New Applications for RFID

Features
Gateway at a Glance ­� Canada

Moving Goods in a Slower Economy

Ports & infrastructure
National Gateway — a Public-Private Partnership in Progress

California River Ports

Port Products
Clean Air Equipment

Commentary
Contract Negotiations Approaching

Who, What, Where, When

Final Say