Ports of Auckland will shortly start work to partially automate its container terminal. It will be the first New Zealand port and only the third straddle carrier terminal in the world to automate.
This stage of automation will increase terminal capacity from just over 900,000 TEU a year to 1.6 to 1.7 million TEU.
“That’s enough to support an Auckland population of around 2.7 million. In other words, this technology gives us an additional 30-40 years of capacity,” says Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson.
When complete in 2019, automated straddle carriers will be used to load and unload trucks and operate the container yard. Manually-driven straddle carriers will continue to work between the yard and ship-to-shore cranes.
“This is a game changer for us. We need more container terminal capacity, but we can’t expand through reclamation, so we have to go up. Automation allows us to do that safely and efficiently,” adds Gibson.
Automated straddle carriers use up to 10% less fuel, reducing carbon footprint. “They need less light and operate more quietly, reducing our impact on neighbouring communities,” adds Gibson. “And they will lower our costs, making our operation more competitive and sustainable long-term.”
The decision has been made after a year of consultation with staff and unions and detailed studies to prove the concept’s safety and efficacy.
The automation could result in the retrenchment of around 50 stevedores.
