Out of the box benefits

“From the moment you switch on the systems you have full positioning control over both the equipment and the cargo being moved,” he says. “In operations, this allows you to optimise the deployment of terminal tractors and RTGs, as well as making best use of the yard layout. Overall quality of service to customers therefore improves, as does productivity.”

In respect of maintenance, the capability of identifying breakdowns remotely is a definite bonus.

PTP calculates a return on investment in under 24 months, thanks to “improved efficiencies and better handling accuracy”.

“Positioning systems have enabled our RTG operators to perform better and handle more containers within the same given time frame, which is crucial given that last year throughput amounted to 6.5m teu,” said the spokesperson.

At Southampton, IT services director Andy Kinnell says return on investment can be calculated in different ways. However, the introduction of improved GPS technology and its integration with the terminal’s operating system, Navis SPARCS, is already demonstrating two clear benefits.

“Firstly, there is less chance of containers being incorrectly stacked in the target position when discharging containers from the ship, which means quicker turnaround times for the vessel and less likelihood of the crane having to wait for the straddle carrier to sort out the problem and return to the ship.

“Secondly, by working with the TOS and recording each time a container is put down, the new GPS system is able to improve the accuracy of box positions. This, in turn, should improve the waiting time for our haulier customers when the straddle carrier is collecting a box from the stack.”