Recently, CCCC Zhenhua Heavy Industries (CCCC) held a ceremony to deliver its LBCT equipment in Long Beach, USA. The handover marked the successful commercial operation of North America's first fully automated container terminal. CCCC Zhenhua Heavy Industries representatives stated that the delivered equipment is the world's most advanced automated port machinery, significantly improving terminal operational efficiency and effectively reducing energy consumption and emissions. In recent years, CCCC Zhenhua Heavy Industries' automated terminal equipment systems have gradually entered the market, capturing a significant market share and successfully entering Europe and the United States.

Xiamen Yuanhai Automated Terminal is undergoing final commissioning.

Earlier this year, Xiamen Yuanhai Automated Terminal welcomed its first mainline container ship, the COSCO Houston. Unlike previous terminal loading and unloading operations, which were often crowded and chaotic, the terminal operating system and equipment management and control system seamlessly integrated during this loading and unloading process, ensuring all operations were completed on time. This demonstrates the superior performance of Zhenhua Heavy Industries' independently developed, world-first fourth-generation automated container terminal loading and unloading system, which has withstood the test of real-world conditions.

The Xiamen Yuanhai Automated Terminal's fully automated loading and unloading system is computer-controlled from a central control room, achieving truly unmanned yard operations. This not only reduces terminal labor costs but also improves operational safety and productivity. As China's first unmanned terminal, it addresses issues such as excessive noise, excessive emissions, and environmental pollution. Calculations indicate that this electrically driven fully automated terminal will save over 25% energy and reduce carbon emissions by over 16% compared to traditional terminals.

ZPMC's 18 automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for the first phase of the Xiamen Yuanhai Automated Terminal are all powered by lithium batteries, achieving zero pollution and zero emissions. ZPMC has also developed a new charging solution that addresses the issue of charging the AAGVs without compromising operational efficiency. The Shanghai Yangshan Port fully automated terminal project will utilize the world's first dual-lift automated rail-mounted crane, capable of simultaneously lifting two containers, doubling efficiency.

ZPMC's independently developed intelligent dispatching and control system for the automated terminal intelligently plans container storage and ship stowage based on container inbound and outbound information. This allows for efficient and intelligent dispatching and management of all equipment, automating the container handling process. This software system, with its strong scalability and upgradeability, has been applied to the Xiamen Yuanhai Automated Terminal project and will be applied to the Qingdao Port fully automated terminal project.

Currently, fierce global competition among ports, rising shipping and loading and unloading costs, and stricter environmental protection and efficiency standards are placing higher demands on port development. Technology research and development focused on larger vessels, energy conservation, environmental protection, and intelligent automation have become the current trend in port machinery equipment development.

With the construction of fully automated terminals booming overseas, a number of conventional terminals in China, both retrofitting and newly built, are also considering automated container terminals. Container terminal automation is a major trend. "The Xiamen Yuanhai Automated Terminal is a conventional terminal renovation project. Ports like Ningbo and Shenzhen are also considering upgrading their terminals to automated terminals. Another market opportunity lies in new terminals. Qingdao and Shanghai Yangshan Port are examples of newly built fully automated terminals, and Tianjin and Dalian are also considering building automated terminals," said Lei Jinsheng, Assistant General Manager of Zhenhua Heavy Industries' Qingdao Port Automated Terminal Project.