MSC Sees Automation Shaping Future Container Terminals

Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), the world’s largest container shipping company and a major international terminal operator, believes the next generation of container terminals will be shaped less by physical expansion and increasingly by automation, connected data systems and the ability to process higher cargo volumes within existing port boundaries.

In a recently published technology paper, MSC said many container terminals continue to rely on disconnected IT systems and manual coordination across berth, yard and gate operations. With containerships becoming larger, greater numbers of containers are arriving during increasingly concentrated port calls, putting additional pressure on berth productivity, available yard space and cargo dwell times.

MSC believes automation will play a central role in addressing these challenges. Automated stacking cranes can help terminals increase yard density, while automated guided vehicles can transport containers between the quay and storage areas. Remote-controlled and automated quay cranes can also improve operational consistency while reducing the need for workers to operate in potentially hazardous areas.

One of the most significant benefits for ports could be the ability to increase cargo throughput without purchasing additional land or investing in major new physical infrastructure. Automated equipment and more sophisticated yard optimization could help terminals make better use of their existing space, while advanced planning technology could shorten berth times and improve the reliability of vessel schedules.

MSC’s position is similar to that expressed by Dr Noel Hacegaba who, in a recent interview, discussed how the Port of Long Beach is responding to one of its biggest physical limitations: the shortage of available land.

With the Californian port unable to simply expand into the surrounding urban area, increasing the density and efficiency of terminal operations, together with improving connections to inland rail hubs, has become increasingly important.

MSC also expects greater standardization to play a role in the evolution of container terminals. Major terminal operators adopting shared digital platforms across their networks could more effectively compare performance while providing greater operational consistency between different ports.

For container shipping companies, one of the main advantages would be improved predictability. Better coordination with road and rail networks, real-time cargo visibility and reduced dwell times could make efficient and reliable terminals more appealing to carriers when planning their shipping networks.

However, MSC acknowledged that the transition toward greater automation and digitalization will bring challenges. Legacy IT infrastructure, the cost of investment, workforce resistance and the need for employee retraining are among the potential obstacles. Increasing reliance on digital technology could also leave terminals more exposed to cybersecurity threats.

MSC’s Terminal Investments Limited (TiL) ranks among the six largest container terminal operators worldwide and is a central part of the shipping company’s rapidly growing global ports portfolio.