A European funded project is developing a standard digital language between port equipment and container terminal operations systems.
The iTerminals4.0 project, which is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility Programme (CEF), has been successfully implemented in the terminals operated by the CMA CGM-Terminal Link group in Malta, Thessaloniki, Dunkerque and Montoir and by the PSA terminals in Antwerp, Sines and Genoa.
Project findings
During a recent online conference, the project partners presented the development process of the language called TIC4.0 Semantics and its fields of application.
Three application cases were presented in which IoT devices were installed on port machinery to record and send operational information from the equipment to BigData management platforms.
The standard digital language developed in iTerminals4.0 allows all types of equipment to be interconnected regardless of the manufacturer of the equipment
Through visualisation modules specifically developed by the project, inefficiencies such as waiting times and non-operational times that are difficult to detect by conventional means have been made possible.
The second part of the conference consisted of a round table discussion in which the experiences and lessons learned during the project were shared. Issues such as cybersecurity and quality of available data were some of the aspects discussed.
In the last session of the conference, the project partners focused on the applications of the digital standard in areas such as predictive maintenance, energy efficiency and operational safety in port terminals.
Co-ordinated by the Fundación Valenciaport, the iTerminals4.0 consortium is made up by Terminal Link - CMA CGM, Prodevelop, Hyster-Yale, RBS, PSA Group, Konecranes, TBA, Cargotec, ZPMC, Kho Management and Bolloré Ports.
