Speaking during on day two during session four, \u201cAI, digitalisation and value creation from data\u201d, industry speakers outlined how better port data integration, operational visibility and AI-powered optimisation are reshaping terminal operations and vessel management across global maritime logistics networks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always a business case for implementation of software,\u201d said David Trueman, commercial director, TBA Group.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think that comes through optimisation and reduction in workload, but ultimately we still think there\u2019s some low-hanging fruit that\u2019s being left and that should be picked up by our customers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Integrated operations<\/strong><\/p>\n Mr Trueman told delegates that demand for port digitalisation platforms had accelerated sharply as ports increasingly move away from spreadsheet-based processes toward integrated terminal operating systems.<\/p>\n He said TBA Group had expanded from 36 to 85 staff within two years as customers prioritised digital transformation projects. The company, which provides terminal operating systems for bulk and general cargo facilities, now supports software across 65 terminals in 19 countries.<\/p>\n According to Mr Trueman, port data itself has become as valuable as the operational systems collecting it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe data that we are capturing is now becoming really, really valuable to our customers and their customers and the broader state of people who need that data,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cMaking sure that information is available in a timely manner to people that are one or two layers detached from the actual operation, that didn\u2019t used to be essential and now it is.\u201d<\/p>\n A major focus of the presentation centred on balancing operational efficiency with practical data capture requirements on terminal sites.<\/p>\n Mr Trueman warned that excessive manual data input requirements could undermine productivity and create resistance among frontline operational teams. He said terminal operators needed to identify a \u201cdata sweet spot\u201d where enough operational data is captured to improve inventory visibility, revenue tracking and performance management without overburdening stevedores and terminal personnel using mobile technologies in the field.<\/p>\n The session also explored how AI is already influencing software development and operational decision-making within the ports and terminals sector. Mr Trueman said AI tools were helping software firms accelerate development cycles while improving efficiency, although cybersecurity and governance concerns remained significant considerations.<\/p>\n He argued that the immediate value of AI within terminal systems lies in simplifying access to operational intelligence, allowing users to request information directly rather than manually navigating software platforms.<\/p>\n Digital corridors<\/strong><\/p>\n Attention then shifted to the wider logistics ecosystem, with Tim Morris, principle engineer at Arup, outlining how fragmented transport and port data systems continue to limit the development of digital green corridors and coordinated freight operations.<\/p>\n Mr Morris said global shipping and logistics networks remain constrained by disconnected operational systems, inconsistent standards and siloed data management structures.<\/p>\n According to him, greater interoperability between maritime, terminal and landside transport systems will be essential to unlock future decarbonisation goals.<\/p>\n He highlighted research indicating that a 5% annual modal shift from diesel heavy goods vehicles to coastal shipping could save 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 while potentially reducing container transport operating costs by 31% by 2050.<\/p>\n However, he warned that disconnected operational systems continue to create inefficiencies across freight corridors and supply chains.<\/p>\n \u201cThe presence of digital technology and services alone doesn\u2019t necessarily guarantee an intelligent system,\u201d Mr Morris said. \u201cThere\u2019s really a need now to start to put greater effort into connecting data sharing across the silos that are part of the problem in these systems.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Morris identified three major maritime data silos, nautical, administrative and operational datasets, as barriers to efficient information exchange. He pointed to ongoing work by the IMO and other standards bodies to create common reference models capable of improving interoperability across the maritime sector.<\/p>\n He also stressed that ports are uniquely positioned to act as both clean energy hubs and central data coordination points within future digital green corridors linking sea and landside freight networks.<\/p>\n AI-driven optimisation<\/strong><\/p>\n The strongest emphasis on AI-driven optimisation came from Karno Tenovuo, CEO, Awake.AI, who detailed how real-time AI systems are being deployed to reduce vessel waiting times, optimise berth allocation and improve emissions monitoring.<\/p>\n Mr Tenovuo said Awake.AI had invested heavily in cloud infrastructure, machine learning workflows and global maritime datasets to develop scalable AI platforms for ports and shipping companies. He argued that many maritime organisations cannot economically justify building their own standalone AI ecosystems due to the cost and complexity involved.<\/p>\n Awake.AI\u2019s systems integrate data from pilotage operations, terminals, vessels, port community systems and emissions reporting platforms to support just-in-time arrivals and automated berth scheduling.<\/p>\n Mr Tenovuo described a berth booking system developed with the Port of Gothenburg that enables vessels to reserve arrival slots before departing previous ports, allowing AI systems to optimise queue management and calculate fuel and emissions savings in real time.<\/p>\n According to Awake.AI, analysis conducted at the Port of Immingham identified 8,500 hours of avoidable vessel waiting time during 2024, potentially representing GB\u00a317 million in annual savings for terminal operators.<\/p>\n The company also demonstrated AI-powered emissions monitoring systems capable of modelling vessel engine activity, berth emissions and Scope 3 carbon outputs across ports and terminal operations.<\/p>\n Mr Tenovuo argued that digitalisation and decarbonisation strategies must advance simultaneously if the maritime sector is to meet long-term emissions targets.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to get to net zero by 2050, 50% will come from electrification and new fuels and 50% will come from digitalisation,\u201d he said. \u201cDigitalisation and electrification go hand in hand.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Port operators and technology providers at this year\u2019s Coastlink conference highlighted port digitalisation, AI and data-driven operations as critical tools for improving efficiency, cutting emissions and strengthening supply chain resilience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2277,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55,7],"tags":[294],"sponsor":[],"class_list":["post-2276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coastlink","category-news-coastlink","tag-coastlink"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2276"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2278,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2276\/revisions\/2278"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2276"},{"taxonomy":"sponsor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/coastlink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sponsor?post=2276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}