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Port Productivity Tools: Six Success Stories by Diane Mettler Improved port productivity can come in many forms. Depending on a port’s goals, it could be defined as upgraded terminals, cleaner air, or increased transparency, to name just a few. Below are a selection of recent port productivity success stories that stem from innovative technology — both low tech and high tech. As you can see from these examples, with the right technology, the sky’s the limit. Container terminal upgrade Parties Involved: Haina International Terminals, Zebra Enterprise Solutions Project: Haina International Terminals in the Dominican Republic recently upgraded its in-house terminal operating system (TOS) with NavisTM SPARCS N4 to improve operations and customer service in the competitive Caribbean market. The Web-based SPARCS N4 operating system now governs the movement of all container logistics and operations from gate to yard to vessel, and offers users improved customer support. “With Navis, we weren’t required to purchase a separate system to handle our break-bulk cargo, which was important to us, since Haina is a multi-purpose port,” said Armando Rivas, general manager of operations at the Haina International Terminals. Results: The system will allow Haina International Terminals to completely automate terminal operations, increasing performance and efficiency and decreasing costs by 20 percent. In addition, the system will set the terminal up to handle additional volumes as the economy improves. Terminal turns to Hardy doors Parties Involved: Prince Rupert, Scott Hardy and Anthony Hague Project: In the spring of 2008, a problem was identified involving toxic fumigants in shipping containers at the Port of Prince Rupert, B.C. Unfortunately, the containers could not be examined and released until the levels of the fumigants could be reduced. The only option was to vent the containers, which took weeks and exposed the goods to weather damage. With every shipment of containers that arrived, the backlog of containers in need of ventilation grew. Worse yet, the problem was not contained to Port Rupert, but experienced by container examination facilities across Canada. At Port Rupert, Border Services Officer Scott Hardy came up with a simple idea. He designed a door made of plywood, which would fit into the door of a shipping container. The door housed a high output fan, allowing the air to circulate through the container while protecting the goods from the weather. Border Services Officer Anthony D. Hague, an experienced carpenter, volunteered to help build the doors, now known as Hardy Doors. Results: Hardy and Hauge created a cost-effective solution (less than $100 to make) that reduced the ventilation time from weeks to mere hours. Their innovation was instrumental in providing a safe working environment for border services officers and the Hardy Door has been adopted by container examination facilities across the country. Electric trucks Parties Involved: The Port of Los Angeles (LA), in partnership with Balqon Corporation Project: An initiative of the Port of Los Angeles’ Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), the development of the Balqon electric truck was initially co-funded in 2007 by the Port of Los Angeles and South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) at a total cost of $527,000. In May 2009, the Port of Los Angeles awarded Balqon an additional $400,000 to develop lithium-ion battery-powered trucks. Designed specifically for drayage operations, the current-model trucks can pull a 60,000-pound cargo container at a top speed of 40 mph, and have a range between 30 to 60 miles per battery charge. The battery charger can charge up to four electric trucks simultaneously in four hours and can also provide up to 60 percent of the charge in one hour to meet peak demands during daily operations. Results: The Port of L.A. is the first port in the world to help develop and put into service groundbreaking electric trucks. Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D. said, “They are cleaner, lower-cost and quiet. They don’t generate harmful tailpipe emissions that plague our air quality in Southern California.” Following successful testing in 2008, the Los Angeles Harbor Commission approved the purchase of 20 electric trucks from Balqon as part of its “green terminal” program. And as partial consideration of the port providing the first sizeable production order with Balqon, the company will provide a royalty payment to the port for each vehicle it sells or leases worldwide. New functionality for Baltimore’s Rukert Terminals People: Rukert Terminals, Tidework Technologies Project: Rukert Terminals is a 130-acre, multi-purpose facility in the Port of Baltimore, handling a wide variety of bulk commodities, from general cargo to breakbulk. The terminal decided to transition from spreadsheets and manual processes to a fully automated system — the Genoa Breakbulk Management System®. “They now have complete visibility into their cargo, whether it’s in warehouses or on-dock storage,” said Harvey Bauer, marketing manager for Tideworks. “They also have the ability to process manifest information instead of doing it all manually.” Results: It’s too early to measure the results, but the advanced technology, like wireless hand-held devices to track inventory in real time, will add functionality that hasn’t traditionally been part of breakbulk solutions; more often seen on the container side of the business. “It’s new for the port community or the terminals customers — it enables them to be more self-sufficient,” Sean Pierce, VP of Tideworks’ business development. Rukert should also see more revenues captured, said Pearce. “The inventory control will reduce the accounts payable so they can bill more efficiently to the customers.” Green energy from flywheel Parties Involved: VYCON, Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach Project: A number of advancements have come out of the Port of L.A./L.B.’s Technology Advancement Program (TAP), including one of the showpieces — VYCON’s Clean Energy Storage System. VYCON created a flywheel technology that captures the energy created when cargo containers are lowered by cranes. That energy is fed back to the crane for the next hoist. Louise Romo, vice president of sales for VYCON, said that between 100 to 200 kilowatts can be generated from a 30-ton shipping container. Results: The benefits are many: reduced peak power, lower fuel consumption, and energy savings in electric motors and diesel generators on shipyard cranes, rail power substations and wind power generation systems. The Greentech Innovations Report stated that port operators using the system managed to cut diesel consumption by 30 percent on average with the company’s REGEN system and in some cases by 45 percent. Maintenance and downtime is also improved. The technology has caught on quickly. It’s been installed in China, Japan and other ports in Asia. In fact, the company installed the 100th system in April 2009. Capturing emissions at the port Parties Involved: Advanced Cleanup Technology, Inc., (ACTI) Ports of Los Angles and Long Beach. Project: ACTI developed an innovative technology to eliminate the air pollution created by ocean-going vessels in ports — Advanced Maritime Emissions Control System (AMECS). AMECS treats vessels while they’re at anchorage or berthed for unloading and loading cargo. A bonnet (or sock as it is sometimes called) is attached to the ship’s stack which captures the exhaust gas. The captured emissions are conveyed through a duct to the Emissions Treatment Subsystem (ETS) for removal of toxic pollutants. AMECS can be either barge-mounted or located on the dock. Results: The PLC-based system acquires, monitors, stores and transmits the data required to maintain efficient emissions control operations as well as document emissions reduction performance. The control system operates automatically, and failsafe strategies keep all operational parameters within design limits. These systems reduce sulfur dioxide (SOx) by 97 percent, particulate matter (PM) by more than 92 percent and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 97 percent, with a very attractive cost effectiveness.	In This Issue Up Front News, Trends & Analysis New Items The risks of delayed action Supply Chain Is your service provider compliant? Does that belong in my port? Features Grading the carriers: How are your service providers doing? Gateway at a glance: China Ports & infrastructure Port Productivity Tools: Six success stories U.S. ports downsize staffs in new economy Port Products RTGs and reach stackers Commentary What’s on the horizon? On the Horizon Fleets of the future: The Chameleon Casualties
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Port Productivity Tools: Six Success Stories