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German Federal States — HHLA

Increased deployment of autonomous transportation vessels at the port.

Increased deployment of autonomous transportation vessels at the port.

,   and  ASMedia
2 min read
Increased deployment of autonomous transportation vessels at the port.
Increased deployment of autonomous transportation vessels at the port.

Dive into the future of container transportation at Hamburg's Burchardkai port, where autonomous gripper vehicles (AGVs) will take over from automated gate vehicles (portal hubs) by 2025's end. Sharing this exciting news during a terminal visit, Angela Titzrath, CEO of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), mentioned that Konecranes, a Finnish manufacturer, will unveil 116 AGVs tasked with transferring containers.

These AGVs will replace the current van-carriers, or portal hub vehicles, which rely on diesel-electric power. By adopting renewable energy for these AGVs, HHLA aims to chop down carbon dioxide emissions by around 12,000 tonnes annually. The AGVs have already graced Container Terminal Altenwerder, another Hamburg port, with their presence.

This shift plays a pivotal role in HHLA's expansion masterplan for the Burchardkai terminal. Although the expenditure on the AGVs remains unveiled, Titzrath revealed HHLA's hefty investment of 300 million euros in the terminal by 2025.

HHLA itself will be the AGV manufacturer of choice for the Burchardkai terminal by 2025, retiring the portal hub vehicles. By electing to utilize their own AGVs, HHLA bolsters its commitment to innovation and industry leadership.

Additional Insights:

Transitioning to AGVs brings a multitude of environmental and operational benefits:

Environmental Benefits:

  1. Lower Energy Consumption: AGVs implement energy-efficient technologies, leading to reduced energy consumption through optimized routing and efficient movement patterns.
  2. Decreased Emissions: Automating transport tasks minimizes human involvement, thus decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Operational Benefits:

  1. Enhanced Efficiency: AGVs offer consistency, leading to reduced bottlenecks and production delays, eventually boosting overall productivity.
  2. Cost Savings: By automating tasks, labor costs decrease and machinery-related errors, damage, and losses lessen, leading to substantial cost reductions.
  3. Improved Safety: AGVs equipped with advanced sensors and safety measures help prevent accidents, minimizing risks in the workplace.
  4. Scalability: Modular in design, AGVs can adapt to new requirements, making expansion easy when handling increasing transport needs.
  5. Real-time Monitoring: AGVs boast advanced tracking and monitoring systems, enhancing transparency in the supply chain.
  6. Productivity Boost: With round-the-clock functionality, AGVs boost efficiency, shortening turnaround times.

The incorporation of AGVs at the Burchardkai container port aligns with the broader automation trend in the industry. HHLA's investment in automated systems like containerbrücken and robotic container carriers further demonstrates its objective to build an efficient and cost-effective operation.

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