Container Terminal 9 (CT9) North in Tsing Yi held an opening ceremony, launching its remote-controlled rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGCs) and automated container stacking system. CT9 North is the first container terminal in Hong Kong with remotely operated cranes.
Hongkong International Terminals Limited (HIT) created a remote operation system of rail-mounted gantry cranes at its terminal back in 2012. In late 2013, HIT started to configure 29 RTGCs, which had been manually operated, into remote controlled cranes. In the same, it launched an automated container stacking system.
Ms. Angela Lee, Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing, said that the port is vital to Hong Kong’s economic growth. “As a leading hub port in the region, the success of HKP can be largely attributed to the efficient and professional management and services of the terminal operators, who have made continuous investments to capitalise on emerging technologies and to upgrade the port facilities,” Ms. Lee added.
With the introduction of remote-controlled cranes and an automated container stacking system, each crane incorporates 58 monitoring cameras and sensors, thus enhancing industrial safety in its operation. The new remote operation system is included in a database at the terminal, showing where and how the containers can best be grounded or stacked. The new cranes are expected to be 20% more efficient and productive than manual ones.
