Busan New Port has announced the opening of its first entirely automated terminal in Korea.
Hybrid tests were conducted for horizontal transport using Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in preparation for the opening of the sixth and final terminal at Busan New Port.
The new terminal was formally inaugurated on 5 April.
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The Busan Port Authority operates both the container gantry cranes on the ocean and the landside cranes in the yard completely mechanically. This combines the Dongwon Global Terminal (DGT) with the implementation of completely automated horizontal transportation using AGVs.
Horizontal transport was extensively tested at the new terminal before its implementation, although the new Terminal Operating System (TOS) was not yet operational. Piscesoft and AKQUINET, the partner firms, collaborated to create hybrid test scenarios.
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Dr. Holger Schütt, Managing Director of AKQUINET’s Port division, said: “We supplied the real AGVs with all the necessary data from the future TOS and were, therefore, able to run the horizontal traffic at the terminal under real conditions before commissioning, even though no ship had yet been unloaded.”
This was reportedly made possible by AKQUINET’s CHESSCON simulation software.
Jungwoo Kim, Head of Management and Operation at DGT, stated: “DGT’s innovative approach to integrating the Digital Twin environment with real AGVs to streamline the validation process is truly commendable.
“It’s inspiring to see how DGT tackles challenges head-on, setting new standards in efficiency and innovation within the industry.”
In March, DP World announced a $50 million investment to build a new logistics hub at Busan New Port, China.
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