Tianjin Port Group and Huawei announced this week that the two companies will deepen cooperation to build a digital twin of the port, making it more automated and intelligent. Yang Jiemin, Vice President of Tianjin Port Group, explained that this plan consists of three parts: Construction of new automated terminals, upgrading of traditional terminals, and comprehensive digital transformation.
The Section C Terminal in the Beijiang Port Area of the Port of Tianjin was the world’s first smart, zero-carbon port terminal. It entered large-scale commercial operations in October 2021, and has been stably operating ever since. 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies are applied at this terminal to make it both safer and more efficient. At the terminal, container cranes operate automatically and intelligent robots of the horizontal transportation system frequently come and go. Remotely controlled quay cranes lift loaded containers from cargo ships and put them onto the intelligent robots for horizontal transportation. Supported by the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, these robots are guided to automatic locking/unlocking stations to unlock containers and then to the container yard along optimal driving routes that are calculated in real time. The entire process runs smoothly.
Yang Jiemin explained how the new solution, which combines 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies, has for the first time been put into large-scale commercial application in a partially public scenario at the Section C Terminal. This has provided a new model for upgrading and transforming existing traditional container terminals worldwide. “These innovations being used at the Port of Tianjin are having a huge impact on the port industry, creating new value for ports by improving operating environments, driving green and low-carbon development, and increasing operational efficiency. We believe that these practices will promote the intelligent development of the global port industry,” said Yang.
Yue Kun, CTO of Huawei’s Smart Road, Waterway & Port BU, stated, “Ports are a vital link in maritime transportation, connecting trade and supply markets across the globe. Building more efficient smart ports is becoming an increasingly pressing requirement for the global supply chain. Section C Terminal of the Port of Tianjin has now been operating stably for over one year. This proves that 5G and L4 autonomous driving have already been successfully adopted by industries in China, and are creating true commercial and social value.” Yue believes that this progress will benefit various industries, with next-generation digital technologies, such as 5G and AI, combined to solve industry problems, promote digital industry transformation and upgrading, and generate social value.
As a major modern port, the Port of Tianjin boasts 300,000-ton-class terminals with a channel depth of 22 m. It has 213 berths of various types. In 2022, its container throughput exceeded 21 million TEUs, ranking among the top 10 ports worldwide.
About Huawei:
Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have 195,000 employees and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world.
Our vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. To this end, we will work towards ubiquitous connectivity and inclusive network access, laying the foundation for an intelligent world; provide diversified computing power where you need it, when you need it, to bring cloud and intelligence to all four corners of the earth; build digital platforms to help all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; and redefine user experience with AI, making it smarter and more personalized for people in all aspects of their life, whether they’re at home, on the go, in the office, having fun, or working out.
About Tianjin Port Group:
The Port of Tianjin is located at the western end of Bohai Bay in Binhai New Area, Tianjin, China, serving as a link between Northeast Asia and Central and Western Asia. It is also an important stop along the New Eurasia Land Bridge Economic Corridor and an international hub for China’s opening-up to the outside world.
In 2022, its container throughput exceeded 21 million TEUs, ranking among the top 10 ports worldwide. As a major modern port, the Port of Tianjin boasts 300,000-ton-class terminals with a channel depth of 22 m. It has 213 berths of various types, and mainly comprises six areas: Beijiang, Dongjiang, Nanjiang, Dagukou, Gaoshaling, and Dagang.
The Port of Tianjin maintains trade with more than 500 ports across more than 180 countries and regions around the world.
