From Our Correspondent, Chattogram: A radical shift has begun in the traditional methods of container handling at the world’s seaports. Through the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Net-Centric Platforms (NCP), ports are evolving into ‘Smart Ports,’ marking a historic digital milestone in global logistics.
Following the success of Rotterdam, trials begin at Jebel Ali The Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands was the first in the world to create a sensation by successfully implementing full automation technology. Following that success, a comprehensive trial of AI-powered gantry crane systems has commenced today, May 4, 2026, at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port, the gateway to the Middle East. Under the supervision of DP World, the launch of this technology has transformed Jebel Ali into one of the world’s leading modern digital hubs.
Advantages of AI-Powered Automated Cranes The application of this technology is redefining container handling. Its primary benefits include:
Exceptional Efficiency: AI algorithms can independently determine the shortest and safest path for lifting containers. This saves time during every movement and increases handling speed by up to 20%.
24/7 Continuous Operation: While humans experience fatigue, machines do not. These cranes can operate day and night without breaks, significantly helping to reduce vessel congestion at the port.
Energy Efficiency and Eco-friendliness: The AI system optimizes the crane’s energy consumption, leading to a notable reduction in carbon emissions and electricity costs.
Unmanned Operation and Safety One of the most significant features of this technology is its unmanned operation. Operators are no longer required to sit in cabins atop the cranes. Instead, an expert monitors 3 to 4 cranes simultaneously via screens from an air-conditioned room located miles away. Equipped with sensors and thermal imaging technology, the cranes stop automatically if the slightest obstacle or risk is detected, bringing the risk of accidents down to nearly zero.
Chittagong PCT and the Bangladesh Perspective The Chittagong Port, Bangladesh’s primary gateway, has also stepped onto this path of modernization. At the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT), currently operated by the renowned Saudi operator Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), the initial phases of using such high-tech equipment have begun. Although fully ‘unmanned AI cranes’ have not yet been introduced at the PCT, the operator has integrated digital logistics and modern tracking systems. It is expected that with the commissioning of the Matarbari Deep Sea Port and the Bay Terminal, a historic digital transformation similar to Jebel Ali’s will be witnessed in Chittagong.
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