Annual volume at global container terminals will rise by a 5.6% rate
during the next 5 years and reach 840 million TEU by 2018.The usual way
for ports to deal with the increasing demand of sea transport and
compete against competitors is to expand the port in the original site.
There is scarcity of land available for port expansion in densely
populated urban areas where most of European ports are situated. This
fact is causing that many container terminals are coping with congestion
and capacity problems. Therefore, port managers are searching for more
efficient and cost-effective means in the handling of containers while
still trying to introduce innovative technical solutions. Container
handling equipment automation is an innovative technological solution
that contributes not only to improve the utilization rate of equipment
and reduce operating costs, but also greatly improve efficiency of
terminals.