By Syed Wahaj Ahmed
Hutchison Ports Pakistan which is the country’s first and only deep-water port capable of berthing the world’s largest container vessel is the first container terminal in Pakistan to introduce remote-controlled cranes for its operations with an investment of $235 million.
“We are running our quayside operations fully through a remote operating station. The cumulative cost of yard and berth cranes is USD 235 million, environmentally friendly cranes” stated CS Kim, General Manager and Head of Business Unit, Hutchison Ports Pakistan, while talking to a group of journalists.
He added that they have procured 31 conventional RTGCs (hybrid and electric) and 22 remote-controlled RTGS.
“This technological advancement has improved the port’s efficiency as our QCs can handle 25 moves per hour and have achieved the record of 44 moves per hour.” said Muhammad Hamza Masood, Senior Operations Manager, Hutchison Ports Pakistan.
He added that they have 14 Quay Cranes on site with the ability to lift a container with a weight under a spreader of up to 65 tons to enable safe operations on vessels up to 26 rows wide.
Muhammad Hamza Masood, Senior Operations Manager, Hutchison Ports Pakistan said that with the aid of HD cameras, automation technologies with advanced terminal operating system – nGen, our operators can sit comfortably in an office environment while achieving remarkable quayside productivity.
“Automated systems reduce the likelihood of errors, enhance the accuracy of container placement, and contribute to faster vessel turnaround times by quickly unloading and loading containers, minimizing the time ships spend at the port.
“The ability to handle larger vessels and multiple containers at once increases the overall capacity of the port,” said Muhammad Hamza Masood, Senior Operations Manager, Hutchison Ports Pakistan.
Talking about Automated Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (ARTGC), he said that they are used for high-tech remote operations for stacking containers and both Quay Cranes and ARTG systems contribute to operational efficiency and safety by automating and streamlining container handling processes, reducing turnaround times, minimizing errors, and incorporating advanced safety features.
“The integration of these technologies is crucial for modern container terminals aiming to enhance their overall performance,” said Muhammad Hamza Masood, Senior Operations Manager, Hutchison Ports Pakistan, adding that Hutchison Ports Pakistan has 9 lanes for incoming vehicles and 6 lanes for outgoing vehicles at its gates.
“These gates are equipped with weighbridges to facilitate the movement of traffic. The port also has a large truck parking area with over 200 designated spaces, which helps to alleviate congestion and allows for a quick turnaround time of 90 minutes,” said Muhammad Hamza Masood, Senior Operations Manager, Hutchison Ports Pakistan.
He added that Hutchison Ports Pakistan ensures efficient and effective operations using advanced technology, automated systems, and real-time monitoring and tracking capabilities.
