Hongkong International Terminals Limited (HIT) meets future challenges by actively focusing on customer service
Next Generation Terminal Management System (nGen)
Automated Truck Identification System
Operations Monitoring System (OMS)
Yard Automation
Ship Planning System (Guider)
Barge Identity Card System
Rubber-tyred Gantry Crane Remote Operations System
Computer Simulation
Rail-mounted Gantry Crane Remote Operations System
Wireless Paging
Radio Data System (RDS)
Anti Truck Lifting Protection System
Next Generation Terminal Management System (nGen) HIT's Next Generation Terminal Management System (nGen) has been making a difference for customers since 2005. nGen controls the entire scope of terminal operations, including ship and yard planning, gate operations, and vessel operations; plus overall operations monitoring, equipment utilisation, productivity, and costs optimisation. From a two-berth terminal to a mega terminal, nGen has been designed to support as required. Using industry-standard, open-platform technologies such as Java and XML, nGen is truly scalable across all non-proprietary computer system hardware. In addition, with real-time operator alerts, each control staff can customise more than a dozen automated alerts to suit different situations. These alerts not only allow operators to take the appropriate action at the appropriate time, but also relieve on-the-job pressure. Operators no longer need to constantly stare at the computer screen to look for problem areas! nGen has over 100 user-definable business rules that can be fine-tuned. For example, an operator can adjust the laden box grounding and internal tractor deployment rules to meet customers' specific operating requirements. There is no need for reprogramming and compiling, as nGen adapts effortlessly.nGen truly lives out the HIT motto of doing more with less. With nGen, HIT is well positioned to meet increasing throughput and productivity requirements into the next decade and beyond.
Automated Truck Identification System (ATIDS) HIT has developed and launched successfully an innovative Automated Truck Identification System (ATIDS). This new system deploys detection and identification portals in container yard and use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to track and trace the location of internal and external container trucks, to mitigate the heavy traffic loading of container yard and to streamline the container yard operations. Through integration and customization with our terminal operations system, ATIDS enables container yard management with increased visibility of truck movements and greater control over traffic flows. Together with our high efficiency yard crane, the yard productivity as well as the yard handling capacity can substantially be increased. ATIDS, acting like a magnifying glass on yard traffic situation, can facilitate container yard operators to provide optimal routes to all container truck drivers in the terminal to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Operations Monitoring System (OMS)The Operations Monitoring System (OMS) helps operators visualise terminal operations and container stacking information. Graphic overviews cover the entire container yard down to the details of an individual container, and this predicts yard congestion so that operators can take pre-emptive action.
Yard Automation Container yard activities are planned, co-ordinated and monitored automatically; and a real time yard map that contains the exact location of all containers in the terminal at any one time helps to reduce the time vessels spend at berth, which saves tractor turnaround time in the terminal, and provides flexibility in handling customers' special requirements. The nGen system maintains detailed information on each container, and provides a variety of enquiry, reporting and analysis facilities to assist in the management of container inventory.
Ship Planning System (Guider) Guider delivers optimal sequences for discharging and loading vessels that ensures both ship stability and efficient operations. Guider holds a library of every vessel that berths at the terminal, and nGen can then use this information to generate more precise pier-side instructions to yard operators.
Barge Identity Card System HIT was the first Hong Kong container terminal operator to introduce the barcode-based Barge Identity Card System (BID). This state-of-the-art system has streamlined barge movements and enhanced customer service for the more than 2,500 barges that HIT handles every month on average. The method of operation is simple. When a barge arrives, quayside staff members ask the responsible crew member for the vessel's BID card and scan it using a handheld terminal. This quick and easy system verifies the identity of a vessel with the Barge Registration Centre, which not only helps to strengthen terminal security, but also provides a platform for extending Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) links between barge operators and HIT.
Rubber-tyred Gantry Crane Remote Operations and Automated Container Stacking Systems Container Terminal 9 North (CT9 North) is the first container terminal in Hong Kong to fully deploy an automated container stacking system and operate remote-controlled cranes at its container yard. The installation of automated and remote operation systems is unprecedented as it was the first time in the world for a container terminal to perform such transit seamlessly while maintaining full operations. With 58 monitoring cameras and sensors for each of the 29 yard cranes at CT9 North, the new remote operation system raises the safety by ensuring precision of stacking and grounding. With this system, the operation of cranes moves from a crane cabin to an office environment. Professionally-skilled crane operators load or unload containers from container trucks with the aid of an advanced computer system. The new system integrates with Terminal Operating System at the terminal to determine the most suitable location and means to load and unload containers, which raises the operational efficiency and productivity by 20%. In addition, air quality at the terminal has been improved as electricity-powered remote-controlled cranes produce 30 per cent less carbon dioxide than manually-controlled ones.
Computer Simulation A family of award-winning simulation models gives HIT a competitive edge by allowing us to examine how the terminal reacts to any proposed changes. By identifying potential benefits, as well as revealing disadvantages, the simulations are helping to ensure that any new practices, systems or technology are properly integrated and optimised before they 'go live'.
The first studies began in 1993 with a look into gate processes, yard crane deployment and yard traffic. Simulations focus on five key areas: equipment handling rates, vessel operating rates, tractor turnaround times, yard grounding characteristics, and resource utilization levels. In a move to enhance port design and system development, HIT has shared the benefits of its simulation work with other HPH ports.
Rail-mounted Gantry Crane Remote Operations System In 2012, HIT introduced a remote-controlled rail-mounted gantry crane system at its Container Terminal 6, the first of its kind in Hong Kong. With this system, the operation of cranes moves from a crane cabin to an office environment. Professionally-skilled crane operators load or unload containers from container trucks with the aid of an advanced computer system. Currently, there are 23 rail-mounted gantry cranes in Container Terminal 6, all of them have been equipped with remote operation feature.
Wireless Paging Our Wireless Data Terminal, or Wireless Paging, was designed in-house for use by internal tractor drivers who serve the vessel and marshalling operations. Wireless Paging dispatches precise movement instructions on a real-time basis, and drivers are then able to interact with the computer system nGen through the on-board display. Wireless Paging Paging allows nGen to react to adhoc situations and so perfectly suits the often challenging and changing conditions.
Radio Data System (RDS) Our Radio Data System (RDS) acts as the eyes and ears of the main computer system, nGen. It uses radio channels linked to remote terminals mounted in the cabins of each Rubber-Tyred Gantry Crane and Quayside Crane, as well as hand-held computers carried by operators and supervisors in the yards and on the quayside, to provide nGen with detailed information of yard operations and container movements.
Anti Truck Lifting Protection System While inadvertent truck lifts are rare, HIT's innovative, optical sensor-based Anti Truck Lifting Protection System (ALTS) is a welcome and necessary system that increases personal safety, reduces downtime, and improves efficiency and productivity. The system uses two optical sensors mounted at a height of 1.7 metres on the crane leg facing the truck lane. In a successful lift, the light beam penetrates thin air as the container freely rises. But should the container still be attached to the chassis due to locked or jammed trailer twist-locks, the sensor detects the chassis and automatically stops the hoist motion. ALTS is an industry first in Hong Kong, and HIT is sharing its technology with other HPH ports. ATLS also won the Gold Award in Hong Kong's Occupational Safety and Health Council's Enhancement Forum.
