The joint venture between PSA and Lianyungang Port Group will take over the container terminal project from China Shipping Container Lines following completion of the deal which is subject to regulatory approval. The container terminal marks PSA’s first major foray into the Yangtze River Delta region – one of the most important economic regions in China linking many key cities. The terminal is poised to support the container trade originating from the hinterland of Shandong and Jiangsu, China’s second and third largest economic provinces respectively, and connecting it to the shipping routes linking China with Europe, the Americas and the rest of Asia. The established rail connections, in particular the New Eurasia Land Bridge, originating from Lianyungang Port to China’s central and western regions, Central Asia and Eastern Europe create an integrated intermodal network and the new terminal stands to benefit from growth in the various regions. This investment is the first collaboration of PSA with the Lianyungang Port Group. Commenting on the partnership, Mr Tan Chong Meng, Group CEO of PSA, said, “Lianyungang’s strategic location, established transport infrastructure and extensive hinterland offer tremendous potential for this joint venture to ride the waves of continuous growth in the Yangtze River Delta region. PSA is committed to building and strengthening this partnership with the Lianyungang Port Group and contributing to the transformation of Lianyungang into a world-class Port of Call.” Lianyungang Port Group Chairman Mr Bai Li Qun expressed his confidence in the partnership. He said, “PSA is one of the world’s largest global port groups, known for its management expertise, operational efficiency and global connectivity. Lianyungang Port handles the highest intermodal container volume by sea and rail in China, servicing the hinterland of Central and West China. Capitalising on the complementary strengths of both parties, the collaboration between PSA and Lianyungang Port Group will help to spur economic growth in the region.” The container terminal has a designed capacity of 2.8 million TEUs and will be a premium facility to service the world’s mega container vessels. It has 1,700 meters of quay length, Super-Post Panamax quay cranes (of 23-row outreach) and a water-depth of 16.5 meters. The terminal is expected to commence operations in 2014.

Both ports face the challenge of modernizing to better serve customers and to reduce their environmental impacts. The ports welcomed the chance to share technical and engineering information, best practices, and professional expertise.

“As we move ahead with our $4 billion modernization program, and as you develop your extraordinary new Port of Busan facilities, we have many beneficial opportunities to share ideas, information and expertise to meet these mutual goals,” said Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners President Thomas Fields at the event in South Korea. “To that end, it is our great honor to enter into this Sister Port Agreement with the Busan Port Authority.”

The Port of Long Beach has existing sister port agreements with the Port of Qingdao in China, and the ports of Hualien and Taichung in Taiwan. The Port has memorandums of understanding with the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the Panama Canal Authority, Yantian International Container Terminals in Shenzhen, China, and China Merchants Holdings International, the largest public seaport operator in China.

Like the previous agreements, the Busan accord is not legally binding, but is expected to create additional opportunities for cooperation between the two ports. President Fields and Acting Executive Director Al Moro signed the Busan agreement on behalf of the Port of Long Beach.

Launched as a result of the Navy Base Terminal permit process, the program requires trucks serving the container terminals to have engines manufactured in 1994 or later. Based on engine year rather than truck model year, the certification is designed with maximum flexibility for the trucking industry. Truck owners must enroll in the program using the website below between November 1st, 2013 and January 1, 2014.

“The Port is committed to operating in a way that is mindful of the environment and good for business,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA President and CEO. “By implementing this program, we achieve a reduction in the air quality impacts resulting from an older truck fleet, and modernize the over-the-road equipment just as we are doing on terminal with newer equipment. The Clean Truck Certification program is the next step in our well-established, common sense port-related emissions reductions strategy.” 

During the month of November, the SCPA will continue offer an incentive of $5,000 plus scrap value to truck owners who use this opportunity to upgrade their truck engines. Over the last two years the SCPA has offered the only truck replacement incentive program in the Southeast, with 84 trucks replaced to date. Together the SCPA and SCDHEC have spent in excess of $1,000,000 on promotion and implementation of the truck replacement program.

“I didn’t realize how much of a difference this program would make,” said truck driver Donald MacKinnon. “My 1992 International was still working fine, but with the help of the Truck Replacement Program, I was able to replace it with a 2007 Freightliner. With my new truck, I don’t feel as tired at the end of the day, and I’m less worried about mechanical issues. I would recommend this to other drivers.”

A limited number of hardship registrations will be available on a first come, first serve basis for trucks who have called on terminals at least 52 times in the previous 52 weeks. Hardship registrations will be accepted beginning on November 1, 2013 and will expire on June 30, 2014. Trucks calling on the terminals that do not have a hardship registration and have not been certified will be allowed to enter one time. They will be informed of the new certification program and directed to driver’s assistance. 

“As truckers and residents of the Lowcountry, we seek to provide motor carrier service using the most fuel efficient and cleanest burning trucks possible,” said Keith Johnson, President of the Charleston Motor Carriers Association. “We support the Clean Truck Program and the opportunity it gives our members to upgrade their truck engines. This is a positive initiative both for our industry and for the environment.”

SCPA will conduct on-terminal spot checks to confirm engine year, and the program pertains to all container facilities including the SC Inland Port. 

The New Zealand port operator has implemented the new system as an extension of its existing investment in CTAS, IDENTEC SOLUTIONS’ real-time fleet management and process automation platform for container port and terminal operators.

As installed at LPC, the IDENTEC SOLUTIONS CTAS tyre management system (TMS) uses PressurePro’s heavy-duty 10 Wheel Monitor to continuously capture and record tyre data, including automatic alarms for low or high pressures and temperatures. The sensors, which are fitted to the valve stem of each straddle carrier tyre, can read pressures from 10 to 199 psi, with data displayed in psi, bar or kPa. Information from the PressurePro monitors is integrated into CTAS via the straddle carriers’ PLC controls and is displayed on the Fuel/Tyre dashboard of the CTAS Fleet Management software module. This allows LPC maintenance and engineering staff to remotely track, manage and analyse the performance of individual tyres and machines. 

A special feature of the LPC system is a “limp home” safety mode. When a low pressure tyre is identified, CTAS sends a signal to the straddle carrier PLC to automatically restrict the speed at which the equipment can be driven. At the same time, drivers receive a “Return to workshop” message on their CTAS cabin display unit. This ensures that drivers cannot continue to operate equipment normally until the fault has been properly checked and rectified by maintenance staff.

LPC has so far installed CTAS TMS on 4 new Liebherr straddle carriers commissioned earlier this year, with an option to roll the system out across its existing fleet of 18 Kalmar straddle carriers in the future. The TMS technology was factory-fitted and IDENTEC SOLUTIONS worked closely with Liebherr to ensure successful mechanical and electronic integration of CTAS and TMS components during equipment production and on-site commissioning. As part of the project, IDENTEC SOLUTIONS is also collecting shock data from straddle carriers and spreaders, which is transmitted to the equipment PLCs to assist with overall diagnostics and trouble shooting.

LPC is New Zealand’s third-largest deep water container port, and the largest in the South Island. Container trade through the port has grown by more than 20% in the last two years, as Canterbury rebuilds following the earthquakes of 2010-2011, and has surpassed 350,000TEU during the 2013 financial year. With container volumes expected to double in the next 8-10 years, LPC is now investing over NZ$16 million (€9.6 million) in new handling equipment and supporting technology such as CTAS TMS.

Previously, LPC’s tyre pressure management process was completely manual, relying on maintenance staff to perform regular field checks. As a result of its investment in CTAS TMS, the port now expects to save on maintenance labour and fuel costs, as well as improving operator safety. 

LPC was already using the CTAS platform for vehicle access control, remote fuel management and equipment shock monitoring and says that it “made good sense” to adopt the tyre monitoring module within CTAS rather than investing in a separate system. “With our existing investment in the IDENTEC CTAS system, this additional technology and functionality could be implemented to our straddle carrier fleet in a phased process with minimal disruption and cost,” said Ray Welten, Purchasing Manager at LPC.  “With the latest improvements and accommodation of various custom requirements for this project, the extended performance and functionality which the CTAS system will now offer is expected to greatly reduce operational costs and improve efficiency.” 

“Worldwide, tyres are among the largest contributors to vehicle maintenance costs and the port sector is no exception,” said Michael Dempsey, GM Ports & Terminals for IDENTEC SOLUTIONS. “Under-inflation is the main culprit, creating safety hazards, increasing fuel consumption and emissions and leading to premature ageing.” US studies on commercial vehicle maintenance have calculated that just 10% under-inflation reduces tyre life by 11%, while 30% under-inflation causes a 40% drop in tyre life. “With tyres playing such a vital role in cost, fuel, safety and operational efficiency, IDENTEC SOLUTIONS is pleased to have been able to partner with Liebherr and Advantage PressurePro, both leaders in their respective fields, to develop this integrated monitoring solution for Lyttelton Port of Christchurch,” added Mr. Dempsey.