Terminal Darsena Toscana
STS Crane Automation
Livorno, Italy
Terminal Darsena Toscana (“TDT” henceforth) is the main container terminal of the Port of Livorno with a surface of 389.000 m2 and 1.430 meters of quay length. Since 2012, TDT is part of the GIP GROUP (“Gruppo Investimenti Portuali”).
Established on January 1st 1997, TDT has been shortly identified as the ideal gateway for cargo flows from, or to, Central and North-East areas of Italy due to its strategic location and the excellent connections by sea, roads, and a direct connection with the National railway network. Nowadays, it is ranked among the most influential container terminals in Europe, with an annual handling capacity of 900.000 TEUs.
The project at TDT Terminal started on August 2020 with the main scope to upgrade terminal crane equipment and processes with artificial intelligence technologies and modern automated control systems.
The TMEIC CraneCCR system has been installed in 6 existing STS cranes of TDT terminal.
This innovative TMEIC system consists of a vision hardware controlled by an embedded software application. The CraneCCR controls the crane, ensuring a continuous monitoring of the spreader, as well as the identification of different type of movements (loading, unloading, removals, lane changes, gantry movements, etc.).
Solution
The CraneCCR hardware has been adapted to optimize image capture conditions.
The cameras provide PTZ technology, combining the latest pan, tilt and zoom camera technology with state-of-the-art control algorithms. The CraneCCR system captures container ID numbers, container ISO code, container IMO placards presence, images of all visible container sides, internal terminal truck number (ITTI) and seal presence.
All key data will be detected by TMEIC CraneCCR system ‘on the fly’ as boxes are handled, at speed, across multiple quay crane lanes. This innovative method of acquiring OCR data in motion allows users to automate container identification on the quayside with minimum infrastructure and no impact on STS Crane cycle times.
The strong synergy risen between TDT and TMEIC allows the two teams collaborating as a unique squad with a more creative and innovative approach. The contribution of each member has been relevant to find new and unexplored solutions.
The project Go-Live has been successfully concluded in September 2021.
The automation of the 6 Cranes has been held with a minimum impact on the terminal production. Based on a timeline conveniently agreed with the terminal, each crane has been updated during the hours of less peak-work.
The combination of the Client’s technical experience with the on-site management of the cranes, together with the multidisciplinary expertise of TMEIC technicians and software developers, resulted in the implementation of new software features and new specific transactions.
Results
Results have surpassed mutual expectations by improving terminal performance and providing the terminal with customized tools.
The in-house engineering solution which was designed, manufactured, and commissioned by TMEIC shows a performance success rate higher than 98%. Furthermore, the TMEIC solution allows the reduction of human risks, as well as the increasing of the Terminal productivity and feasibility.
