Kramer Group, a container terminal operator, StreetDrone, an autonomous yard truck technology supplier, and Terberg, a vehicle manufacturer, have partnered to deploy autonomous yard trucks across numerous locations in the Port of Rotterdam.
The initiative will deploy six autonomous yard trucks to the port over the following two years.
It will commence in late 2023 at the Kramer City Terminal and will eventually extend to the Maasvlakte Container Exchange Route in 2024.
The cooperation is designed to create a full autonomous solution for Kramer Group and its workers by using the combined experience of Terberg and StreetDrone.
READ: Port of Rotterdam constructs new site at APMT Maasvlakte II
With Rotterdam’s strategic location as Europe’s biggest port, this project is projected to boost the port’s dependability and competitiveness on a worldwide scale.
Terberg will provide the high-end vehicle platform for the autonomous solution, while StreetDrone will leverage its cutting-edge technology stack to enable safe and efficient teleoperation and self-driving capabilities.
Kramer will provide its expertise, offering its invaluable experience operating some of the busiest container terminals in Europe.
Solid Port Solutions, a Rotterdam-based port consultancy firm, will support the management and delivery of the project.
READ: Port of Rotterdam develops site for green hydrogen plant
Speaking about the collaboration, Andre Kramer, CEO of Kramer Group, commented: “Kramer is constantly looking for innovative ways to better serve our customers.
“Technologies that enable us to handle the 900,000 container movements we complete each year, in a safer and more efficient way, will help us strengthen our position as the handler of choice for customers moving containers through the Port of Rotterdam.”
Mike Potts, CEO at StreetDrone, said “StreetDrone is thrilled to partner with Kramer and Terberg to bring the first autonomous yard trucks to the Port of Rotterdam.”
“This project will demonstrate StreetDrone’s market-leading capability to deploy autonomous yard truck fleets across multiple locations for some of the most innovative companies in the global supply chain.”
READ: Westwell, Hutchison Ports introduce over 100 Q-Trucks at the Port of Felixstowe
Rob van Hove, CEO of Terberg Special Vehicles, added: “Our project with StreetDrone and Kramer is demonstrative of the autonomous solutions Terberg can provide to customers.
“As a Netherlands-based company, we are excited to be the first to deploy autonomous yard trucks at our home port in Rotterdam.”
The adoption of this innovative technology, with the first vehicles already scheduled for production, is set to establish a new benchmark for safety, efficiency, and competitiveness at the Port of Rotterdam.
The experiments will operate at both locations until early 2025, following which the partners want to rapidly increase operations, adding several more autonomous yard trucks to the fleet.
