{"id":2035,"date":"2021-06-30T15:15:08","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T22:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.easyhaul.com\/blog\/?p=2035"},"modified":"2025-11-07T06:59:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T14:59:11","slug":"automated-shipping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.easyhaul.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/30\/automated-shipping\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Automated Shipping"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shipping <\/span>technology<\/span><\/a> continues to pave its way to efficiency but still faces a lot of new challenges. Automated container handling has already become the most anticipated trend within the cargo transportation industry, but it is still not widely accepted. Here, we\u2019re digging into the reasons for the necessity of a worldwide system of automated shipping and its pros and cons.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is Automated Shipping and Automated Container Handling?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"automated<\/p>\n

Since containers are used throughout all modes of transport, the world\u2019s largest automated ports are <\/span>container handling terminals<\/span><\/a>. Automated container handling can be defined as discharging and loading <\/span>container vessels<\/span><\/a> within a semi or fully automated port facility or a <\/span>supply chain<\/span><\/a>. The major driving forces for <\/span>automated shipping<\/span><\/a> are financial, economic, environmental, and market factors. Cargo transport now heavily depends on so-called mega-ships: extremely huge container carriers that can carry up to 18,000 <\/span>TEUs<\/span><\/a>. As these ships have to be quickly discharged, local authorities and governments in many countries stimulate the expansion of port facilities and invest in automation. The main goals of automation are to minimize possible human mistakes and increase the efficiency of supply chain operations. However, only 3% of container terminals in the world are considered semi or fully automated.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Difference Between Semi and Fully Automated Shipping<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"automated<\/p>\n

Currently, there are two types of container terminals that have already implemented automation: semi-automated and fully automated. A <\/span>port<\/span><\/a> terminal is regarded as fully automated when all horizontal transfers between the berth\/quay and a stacking yard are done by remote-controlled automated stacking cranes (<\/span>ASCs<\/b>), rail-mounted gantry cranes (<\/span>RGCs<\/b>), automated guided vehicles (<\/span>AGVs<\/b>), and automated straddle carriers. If automation doesn\u2019t reach the quay or a stacking yard, a port facility is considered semi-automatic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pros and Cons of Automated Shipping<\/b><\/h2>\n

The cargo <\/span>container<\/span><\/a> trade will benefit from the implementation of automated shipping. When it comes to pros, automation brings about several advantages:<\/span><\/p>\n