Boosting efficiency of split marine container terminals byinnovative technology

摘要

A research project launched in the US resulted in a proposal tosplit container ports into an "efficient marine terminal" part ashoreand an "intermodal interface center" inland, both connected by adedicated ailway line. Driven by German Railways DB's desire toconcentrate container flows by introducing a hub and spoke productionsystem, Noell Crane Systems developed a container handling technologythat allows for the transhipment of containers between freight trainsinstead of shunting wagons in 1995. Thus reducing the dwell time of thewagons by 75%. Featuring a highly efficient box mover for the sorting ofcontainers prior to loading them on to the trains, this MegaHub, as itis called, is exactly the technology required for the "IntermodalInterface Center". As for the "efficient marine terminal", Noell isproposing a technology featuring the allocation of rail-mounted gantrycranes spanning rail tracks used in conjunction with a box moverdirectly under the quay cranes. This enables the containers to betranshipped between vessel and freight trains without the need to startmoving the quay cranes along the vessel for positioning purposes. Anadvantage of this concept is that yard transfer vehicles are notrequired, saving a great deal of machinery and labour