With digitalization being at the forefront goals of the shipping industry, Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe is about to deploy 5G technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) as part of the UK Government’s 5G Trials and Testbeds Programme.
Specifically, it is reported that £3.4 million project has received £1.6 million from the government as part of 5G Create, a competition to support innovators exploring new uses for 5G to improve people’s lives and boost British businesses.
The port of Felixtowe will be the largest port within the UK that will deploy the technology as it eyes the opportunity to enhance productivity, efficiency and safety across its core operations.
The project will trial the potential of 5G across two use cases: enabling remote-controlled cranes via the transmission of CCTV and; deploying Internet of Things sensors and Artificial Intelligence to optimise the predicative maintenance cycle of Felixstowe’s 31 quay-side and 82 yard cranes.
To realize this project, the port collaborated with Three UK, Cambridge University and Blue Mesh Solutions, along with key subcontractors Ericsson and Siemens.
Concerning the project, Matt Warman, Minister for Digital Infrastructure stated that
We want to unlock 5G’s potential to revolutionise a wide range of UK industries and 5G Ports is just one project the government is backing to achieve this.
