Machine learning has been implemented in the port of Hamburg to predict the dwell time of a container at the terminal. The first two projects have  been successfully integrated and implemented into the IT landscape at Container Terminals Altenwerder (CTA) and Burchardkai (CTB). This was reported by Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA).

Angela Titzrath, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of HHLA, emphasised the importance of machine learning (ML) for the company in her welcoming address at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) that took place in Shanghai last week. “Advancing digitalisation is changing the logistics industry and our port business with it. Machine learning solutions provide us with many opportunities to increase productivity and capacity rates at the terminals.” The HHLA Chairwoman announced that further uses for ML were bound to be identified.

How it works

The productivity of automated block storage at CTA will be increased by means of an ML-based forecast. The goal is to predict the precise pickup time of a container. Processes are substantially optimised when a steel box does not need to be unnecessarily restacked during its dwell time in the yard. When a container is stored in the yard, its pickup time is frequently still unknown. In future, the computer will calculate the probable container dwell time. It uses an algorithm based on historic data which continually optimises itself using state-of-the-art machine learning methods.

A similar solution is applied at the CTB, where a conventional container yard is used alongside an automated one. Here too, ML supports terminal steerage by allocating optimised container slots. In addition to the dwell time, the algorithm can help calculate the type of delivery. The machine learning solutions can predict whether a container will be loaded onto a truck, the train, or a ship much more accurately than can be determined from the reported data.

A significant positive effect can already be seen at both terminals since the containers are stored based on their predicted pickup time and must therefore be moved less frequently. The projects were driven forward by teams from HHLA and its consulting subsidiary HPC Hamburg Port Consulting.

RailFreight Summit

Do you want to hear more from the port of Hamburg? Maciej Brzozowski will represent the German harbour at the RailFreight Summit in Poznan. He will enter a discussion with Dominik Landa, DCT Gdansk, Daniel Saar, CEO of DB Port Szczecin and Pawel Moskala, Real Logistics about the choice of port for Polish operators.

The RailFreight Summit is to be held on 1, 2 and 3 September. You can register here or view the programme here.