The port and maritime industry has evolved and from the 2010s have entered into a fifth stage of evolution characterized by their digital transformation and alignment with Industry 4.0 practices.

Co-operation among agents is a key element and integration not only involves Port Authorities, Terminals and Port users and related Port Services Providers but the city, port’s hinterland and well beyond the Global Supply Chain.

Internet of Things and sensing solutions, cybersecurity, horizontal and vertical system integration, cloud computing, 3D printing and additive manufacturing, big data and business analytics, augmented reality and simulation and modeling are the pillars of Industry 4.0. Some of those are mature enough in the port and maritime industry, however, others remain in their earliest stages in this business.

While some large ports and terminals specially in Europe (Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Hamburg are the best examples) and Asia (Singapore is leading these emerging technologies in the region) are embarked in ‘4.0 projects’ this wave is just starting in America or is yet to come in other areas and/or in small and medium sized environments. In this sense, the more players that join new PMI-4.0 projects the more synergies will facilitate its implementation.

“Full co-operation and coordination among port and maritime stakeholders would be the cultural change that the industry has to face.”

The main inputs and contributions are:

IoT, sensing solutions, big data and cloud computing in ports 4.0

• Digitization and IoT are powerful enablers in order to improve efficiencies, better manage traffic, empower their workforces and decrease carbon emissions, providing a safer environment for operations and without the need of large port expansions.
• Cloud computing will facilitate data sharing and collaboration between port stakeholders and will contribute positively automation processes or the development of Digital Twin Concepts.

Augmented and virtual reality

• Although, AR it’s not widely spread in port and maritime industry, it is finding its way. Some potential areas of future development of AR in port industry are cargo handling and warehousing services, terminal port planning and port expansion, docking and anchorage services, geotagging (providing exact location of key elements), multimodal operations, port operations control, safety and security.

Artificial Intelligence and machine learning

• Ports such as Hamburg, Rotterdam and Singapore are beginning to take up positions and AI tools have been already developed, to be used in forecasting maritime and land transport operations as well as enhancing traffic control.

Blockchain

• Although, this is a very promising technology, it is still in its early stages. There are four key areas for its deployment: extended visibility and traceability, supply chain digitalization and disintermediation, improved data security and smart contracts.
• Blockchain requires participants to share information openly with many other agents in a fully transparent database and this entails trust and confidence among all of them. This cultural change is yet to come.

Cibersecurity

• Cyberattacks in ports are not hypothetical risks. They are a reality. As far as automation and other technological developments are inevitable in ports, they are more exposed to cyber threats and they have to ensure data and systems integrity since attacks can be easily spread via WiFi or other data networks.

Drones, robotics and automation in ports 4.0

• Drones will be used for maintenance and monitoring quay cranes and other basic port equipment, to fulfill ship-to-shore or shore-to-ship deliveries, or to carry out surveillance for terminal security. Ports are also looking towards the development of amphibious drones that can operate over and land on water to inspect wharf side fenders.

“Cybersecurity and trust for sharing information in a hyper-competitive cyber world seem to be the main barriers for the definite taking-off of these new technologies.”

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