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Download or read book The Most Recent Developments in Container Technologies and Their Impact on Ports written by Themistoklis Manginas and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper encapsulates the most recent developments in container technologies and evaluates their impact on ports, under the premise of development as innovation. Initially, comprehension of the standard operational procedure of the container terminal is attempted, followed by a categorization of the terminals components into tangible and intangible ones. The former include layout and equipment (quay cranes, horizontal transportation, stacking area), while the latter comprise of Terminal Operating Systems (TOS), aiming at optimization of ship planning, transportation and stacking planning. Regarding developments in containerships levels, they are concentrated on size evolution (mega containerships). However, they encounter berth and depth capacity challenges. In terms of vessels virtual improvements, available stowage planning software solutions are evaluated. Trolleys and spreaders are the most technologically advanced parts of Ship-To-Shore (STS) gantry cranes. The latter are classified, using as benchmark the Panama Canal. Mega cranes are the most innovative STS crane models. Mentioning quay cranes intangible improvements, both Berth Allocation Problem (BAP) and Crane Allocation Problem (CAP) optimization are still in experimental stage. In practice, only Port Singapore Authority (PSA) has been able to use BAP optimization software. In terms of horizontal transportation, many developments (capacity, flexibility, structure, formation) have applied to Shuttle and Straddle Carriers (SCs), Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Multi-Trailer Systems (MTSs). Quayside and landside transport optimization aims to minimize delays and empty runs. TOS applications, involving those objectives, aim to optimize routing, scheduling and dispatching. Finally, the most common type of stacking equipment is the reach stacker, which is ideal for medium-scale terminals, while Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) and Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes are the most space-efficient stacking systems, well suited for large-scale terminals. The competitive advantage of Automated Stacking Cranes (ASCs) is their unique feature of rigidity. Furthermore, plenty of Yard Management Systems (YMSs) are commercially available to consolidate terminals storage and horizontal transportation equipment. This study gives an overview of the future port sector structure and describes the future types of equipment. It also underlines the equal importance of physical and virtual developments. Getting through the topic, we also observe the high level of concentration in the market of port equipment manufacturers.