Market Trends of Europe Container Terminal Operations Industry
Smart Port Infrastructure Drove the Market
Smart port infrastructure accounts for the highest share in the element segment. Smart port infrastructure includes automated mooring systems, shore power, gate automation, and smart energy & environment solutions. The smart energy & environment solution subsegment includes smart lighting, smart meters, professional services, managed services, and waste treatment & disposal units.
Maritime transport is crucial for international trade, and ocean shipping is the primary transport mode for global trade. As per UNCTAD, around 80% of the volume of international trade in goods is carried by sea, and the percentage is even higher for most developing countries. A typical port is converted into a smart port using various technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), blockchain, and process automation. These technologies can be used individually or in tandem to convert the traditional infrastructure into a digital one. The smart port includes fewer human-related disruptions, lower operational costs, wiser decision-making, and more consistent performance than traditional ports. All of these advantages lead to increased production, which opens the door for a clear picture of Port 4.0.
Sustainable Smart Ports use new data environments, the maritime industry's energy transition, artificial intelligence, and green technology-based solutions. It is to improve port operational efficiency, promote energy efficiency and the sustainability of clean/renewable energy, and tap into the potential for producing clean/renewable-energy production and distribution. Therefore, increased port efficiency and reduced smart port infrastructure operating costs increased Europe's dependency on sea freight transport.
Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning is Optimizing the Logistical Operations
The maritime industries carried out several projects to investigate new digital technology. If the financial operating costs are reasonable and AI can produce more, shipowners want to reduce human-related operations as much as possible. The transition of automated and paperless processes is made possible by AI. But when it comes to analyzing and using big data to increase labor productivity, the maritime industries struggle.
The maritime sector includes many potential uses for artificial intelligence, including improving corporate operations, travel arrangements, cargo management, and ship maintenance. Shipmasters and bridge teams can monitor and forecast their vessel's positions, movements, and maneuvering hours in advance. It is due to AI-based predictive positioning systems, which will improve situational awareness, decision-making, and safety. ML/AI technologies include a positive economic impact on a shipping company's utilization, optimization, and productivity growth-for instance, a fuel optimization system, one for freight handling time optimization, and others.
