India is one of the fastest growing emerging economies in the world. Port sector
plays an important role to meet the nation's rising demand for handling of cargo
logistics. As marine terminal operation volumes continue to grow throughout the
world, port operators are seeking ways to improve the productivity and efficiency.
Modern day terminals are expected to handle increased cargo volumes, larger vessels
with greater capacity and shorter turnaround time. These changes have an influence
on the method of working and labour deployment at the terminals. More mechanisation,
unitisation and automation of cargo handling are becoming an imperative.
Rapid advances in Information and Communication Technology are reshaping all spheres
of life. Some important developments which have changed the landscape of Port operations
are:
- Automatic Identification System (AIS) using RFID's for logistics and transport planning
- Use of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for fast processing of incoming/outgoing
containers
- Wireless high speed data network enabling easy connectivity between equipment spread
over large geography
- Real time data exchange between all port assets and Port Information Management
System (PIMS)
- Seamless connectivity between ERP System, Vessel Traffic Monitoring System, PIMS
and other business systems involving supply-chain logistics
In order to improve Port performance, operators are implementing AIS systems, setting-up
of Wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) within the Port and connectivity within various
port assets like Cranes, Ship Loaders/Unloaders, Tugs, Liquid Terminals, Hoppers,
Conveyors, Stockyard, Silos, Fuel Management System to exchange data seamlessly
with PIMS, planning system, ERP system. This helps operator to integrate various
information systems in real time and deliver the Right Information, at the Right
Time in the Right Place to create a real time Management Dashboards for KPIs like
- Average Pre-berthing Detention of Vessels (in hours)
- Average Turnaround Time of Ships (in days)
- Average Output per Ship Berth-day (in tonnes)
- Average Berth Occupancy (%)
- Percentage Capacity Utilisation of berths
- Average moves per Crane-hour
Ultimately, the above-mentioned infrastructure is expected to get integrated with
Port Community System (PCS) which will enable Electronic Data Exchange between all
Ports in India and various stakeholders involved in the value chain. PCS is an important
initiative being undertaken under the 12th Plan to implement E-Commerce in Indian
Port business.
Bulk dry cargo handling is entirely mechanised in terminals built over the past
five years including Truck or Wagon Loading System resulting in high throughput.
Handling of cargo in stockyard through Stacker Reclaimers still involves manual
operation. Operational safety has been major concern that is preventing users to
go for unmanned Stacker Reclaimers. With advances in sensor technology, reliable
3D-Laser Cameras and SIL-2 rated Real Time Kinematics (RTK) GPS arrays, one could
get real time visualisation of stockpile and implement reliable anti-collision plus
collision avoidance system. Typically, this system is expected to improve stockyard
throughput by 10-15%.
More than 70% of India's oil requirement is met through imports. A typical liquid
terminal handles Crude Oil, Petrochemicals, Edible Oil, Biofuels, Chemicals and
the cargo handled is inflammable, hazardous. It is, therefore, important to handle
these products safely and the need has been felt to automate liquid terminals to
handle product receipt, in-line blending, storage, despatches and have seamless
integration with business systems for planning, scheduling, billing and reconciliation.
Automation provides terminal operator greater flexibility to switch from one product
to another in shortest possible time. Going forward, greater emphasis would be on
Safety, Health and Environment (SHE). Occurrences of spillages while filling operation
would have to be brought down to minimum. Use of products which meet higher Safety
Integrity Level in the entire process chain may become mandatory to ensure higher
reliability. Fire & Gas Detection System, Intrusion Detection Systems (CCTV) will
get integrated into Terminal Automation System. With mobility solutions gaining
popularity, it would be possible to control/monitor entire terminal operation on
a smart device.
Though the Ports are expected to handle organized traffic involving Cargo and designated
ships backed up with Coast Guard, they are exposed to security threats because there
is a variety of unorganized traffic arising out of fishermen, sailors, surfers,
suspicious elements, wanderers etc. who transit through with relative anonymity
as it is extremely difficult to manually track these objects through cameras and
uniquely determine their threat value. With a number of Ports developing Single
Point Mooring (SPM) facilities for handling crude oil and petroleum products which
are located up to 10-20 nautical miles into the sea, it would be extremely difficult
to identify elements for their threat value without access to the Surveillance infrastructure.
Currently, these are monitored manually and assisted by Patrol Boats around the
SPMs.
Maritime Surveillance solution addresses the challenges of secured operation. The
solution brings out Situational Awareness of the identified sea area integrating
data from multiple coastal and sea based assets, with system capable of identifying
threat situations and generating the necessary alerts calling for closer video surveillance,
tracking, image stabilization and subsequent actions.
World over, the environment is no longer a negotiating point. It may become imperative
to operate ports in good harmony with environment; land, water and air.
This has prompted many ports to undertake initiatives toward reduction of carbon
emission and carbon foot prints through various measures by which green ships/green
ports are being promoted. Rubber Tyre Gantry (RTG) cranes operated using diesel
generators constitute major pie of fuel consumption in Ports. Usage of electrified
RTG cranes which cut fuel consumption by 90% (estimated) would be an important transition
to facilitate greener port operations.
Conclusion
Growing participation of private sector and healthy competition amongst market forces
will bring our ports on par with international ports in terms of performance and
capacity. This will promote extensive use of Automation, Information and Communication
technology. Port operators will look forward to a single entity having an ability
to integrate all technologies seamlessly and provide a comprehensive solution. In
coming times, we will see greater emphasis on Green Ports and reliable surveillance
infrastructure.