Two of the biggest challenges port terminal operators face today are productivity and revenue loss. Legacy connectivity technologies play a role here.<\/p>\n
\u201dOur customer Husky Terminal shared that when they relied on Wi-Fi connectivity across their 115-acre yard, vehicles moving at only 5mph were experiencing poor handoff and signal drop,\u201d says Mr de Lancelotti.<\/p>\n
\u201dSince deploying Nokia\u2019s 5G private wireless, they have had zero packet loss. And the network is able to reach 18-metre stacked containers. <\/p>\n
Data handling<\/strong><\/p>\n There are vast amounts of data generated by port operations and they need high-speed, low-latency and massively connective network infrastructure to handle this, as well as real-time data processing to support for their advanced applications.<\/p>\n This industry runs mission-critical industrial applications that require high reliability and robust security to defend against cybersecurity threats.<\/p>\n Mr de Lancelotti says that we saw that recently when port operations in Australia were disrupted impacting cargo and container processing.<\/p>\n Plus, there are indoor and outdoor concerns and Wi-Fi just cannot provide that kind of connectivity. Comprehensive connectivity combined with edge computing capabilities is crucial. <\/p>\n So, how can ports\/terminals benefit from 5G private wireless in terms of efficiency and sustainability? <\/p>\n There are several ways according to Mr de Lancelotti. A Nokia Bell Labs study shows that replacing Wi-Fi infrastructure with private wireless can reduce by up to 90% the electricity required to cover the same area, while reducing blind spots and improving signal handoffs. <\/p>\n With no signal loss, automated equipment such as cranes, carriers and trucks can operate more efficiently, reduce idle time and optimise fuel consumption. The productivity gain and consumption reduction by reducing human errors cut down costs and accidents. <\/p>\n Advanced predictive analytics is another way. By forecasting maintenance, ports ensure their assets operate at peak efficiency, using less energy and reducing the likelihood of energy-intensive breakdowns. <\/p>\n Similarly, IoT devices connected to the network can be monitored for condition and performance. This helps with efficiency and management of environmental resources, reduces equipment loss and theft, and contributes to reduced waste and cost. <\/p>\n Which product<\/strong><\/p>\n The Nokia DAC PW Compact is designed for small- and mid-sized ports and is available as-a-Service on a subscription-based model, making it more cost-effective for ports with tighter budgets for technology upgrades. <\/p>\n Because it requires less physical space for installation, it\u2019s well suited for ports that lack extensive infrastructure or space to accommodate large or complex systems.<\/p>\n Pre-integrated hardware and software reduce the time and expertise required to get the network up and running and plug-and-play components mean terminal operators can set up their private wireless network with minimal disruption to existing operations. <\/p>\n There is no compromise on coverage or capacity, ensuring that even smaller ports benefit from a high-performance dedicated network.<\/p>\n Designed to scale, terminal operators can start with a small deployment and expand as operations grow and as they adopt more advanced technologies. This future-proofs the investment, providing the confidence that the network can grow in line with automation and digitalisation plans. <\/p>\n On a wider scale, Nokia\u2019s One Platform has multiple applications for port and terminal operators.<\/p>\n Having all personnel connected through reliable and secure data and voice apps on a single converged network contributes to far better communication and collaboration. Dynamic group communications and advanced push-to-talk, push-to-video and group call capabilities can replace Private Mobile Radio (PMR).<\/p>\n In fact, Mr de Lancelotti says that Nokia\u2019s research shows replacing a patchwork of networks with one platform that supports all communications typically reduces TCO by up to 27%. <\/p>\n \u201dReal-time monitoring of worker health and safety is especially important given the hazardous nature of the work. Industrial-grade technologies display data from wearable devices on dashboards and enable automated emergency alarms. This helps them manage risk more effectively and reduce accident rates,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Condition monitoring apps can help port terminal operators gain real-time insights into environmental factors such as temperature, airflow, humidity and light \u2013 essential for applications such as tracking the quality of goods in containers. Asset-tracking applications can improve yard operations, as the data can inform decisions about resource planning and emergency situations.\u202fThese apps can be complemented by video analytics deployed on drones to spot anomalies in real time. <\/p>\n Cybersecurity is another critical concern that the Nokia One Platform addresses. By using the dedicated wireless network to connect container handling equipment to the Terminal Operating Systems, they can eliminate cybersecurity concerns and all risk of network interference. And with terminal automation powered by private wireless networks, they can guarantee SLAs, PROFINET or PROFISAFE protocols for remote control and visual connectivity with the automated machinery.<\/p>\n All of this can reduce the amount of radio equipment in the field, increase container yard productivity by up to 28%, and minimise accidents or injuries by reducing emergency stops by up to 90%.\u202f <\/p>\n Real-time connectivity <\/strong><\/p>\n Nokia\u2019s customer Port of Kokkola in Finland operates three ports over a three kilometre-long area. In the past, staff had to climb up to the cockpit to check alarms, sensor information, fuel levels, read energy and water metres, check the septic tanks and complete other tasks. <\/p>\n When they came to Nokia and its partner Edzcom, the goal was to connect all three ports, all production and the 15 different companies that are on-site at the ports every day, working in two shifts.<\/p>\n The solution includes seven access points and 32 cameras. For applications they are using gate control, a lighting system, electricity metering, water usage, fuel metering, port activity apps, weather stations, smart meters, and several more. Operational control of the whole port is now visible 24\/7 from mobile devices.<\/p>\n \u201dThe port\u2019s CEO told us that he has not received a single notification about the network not working,\u201d Mr de Lancelotti says.<\/p>\n The port is using sensor information to trigger fuel refilling and the emptying of wastewater tanks. They\u2019re also able now to offer ships just-in-time arrival slots, which means the ships can regulate their speed at sea so that they arrive when there is a free slot at the quay. This has led to a substantial fuel cost savings which \u2013 for the Baltic Sea region, where fuel consumption accounts for more than 50% of a ship\u2019s expenses \u2013 is significant. <\/p>\n Into the future<\/strong><\/p>\n The innovations talked about so far are happening today.<\/p>\n But according to Mr de Lancelotti, what\u2019s coming is something that we consider to be a real game-changer that will enhance safety for staff and elevate situational awareness within the ports and terminals \u2013 something that can drive a suite of new applications, productivity and sustainability. It\u2019s called the industrial metaverse. <\/p>\n \u201dLet me clarify that this is different from the consumer metaverse. The industrial metaverse will augment human capabilities by enabling people to naturally\u202finteract with the digital\u202fworld and dynamically represent\u202freal-world things in the digital world to interact with them,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201dIt\u2019s like a fusion of the physical and digital world. Especially for ports, where they handle so many physical assets and manage complex operations, this can bring a new level of control and monitoring.\u201d<\/p>\n For example, Mr de Lancelotti says port operations teams could use digital twins to access and plot data from connected assets. Digital twins could also support predictive maintenance of vehicles and other equipment to ensure issues are resolved before they can impact productivity or worker safety.<\/p>\n Additionally using devices to gather data on how the network responds to dynamically changing operations across the yard, they can plan future network implementations and maintain the safety of teams as they introduce new Industry 4.0 use cases. <\/p>\n The take home Mr de Lancelotti says is that digital transformation in ports is needed and it\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n The pandemic sent shockwaves through the global supply chain and spawned a huge uptake in e-commerce, which port terminal operators are definitely feeling. The market demands are more volatile. Transport routes are shifting. Vessels are growing. To address these tremendous shifts ports and terminals must have far more flexibility and resiliency. <\/p>\n \u201dThe challenge is that terminal operators often rely on older systems. Plus, the Terminal Operating Systems lack the reliable wireless connectivity and modern hardware required to maintain seamless data links between mobile and central applications,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n But with options such as the Nokia One platform, they will have private wireless connectivity based on 4G LTE or 5G with Wi-Fi, industrial devices, an on-premises industrial edge and a catalogue of Industry 4.0 applications. It\u2019s easy to deploy and operate. And it integrates into a legacy environment.\u202f<\/p>\n Several ports around the world have embarked on this journey and are already benefitting from their industrial digitalisation. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" GreenPort talks to\u00a0David de Lancelotti, VP, Enterprise Campus Edge Business, Nokia, about how 5G private wireless is the the future of port business and connectivity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3986,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1376,22,8],"tags":[617,695,1382,1381,1383],"sponsor":[],"class_list":["post-3985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-greenport-exclusive","category-products-services-greenport","category-projects-initiatives-greenport","tag-5g","tag-data","tag-digitisation","tag-nokia","tag-private-wireless"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3985"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3987,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3985\/revisions\/3987"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3985"},{"taxonomy":"sponsor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sponsor?post=3985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}