Malcolm Mclean was an American truck driver who invented container shipping and revolutionized the logistics industry. (Source: Will Box)

Now, at the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, container shipping is undergoing a smart makeover to become more efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Major shipping companies and ports around the world are adopting smart technologies such as Blockchain, Big Data and IoT to automate operations. For example, the world’s largest container shipping company, Maersk is operating on IBM’s  blockchain-like system to cut out additional paperwork and conduct efficient, transparent operations. Major ports now have smart sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) to collect data about the environment and respond to changes in real-time. Finally, to keep up with all the new technology, new infrastructure is outfitting the smart ports of tomorrow.

So, here’s a glimpse into some of the most advanced ports around the world and what the future of container shipping holds.

SEE ALSO: The Changing Waves of the Shipping Industry

Port of Rotterdam

The Port of Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port with more than 461 million tons of cargo and 140,000 vessels passing through it every year. In January 2018, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and IBM announced they will collaborate on a digital transformation project to turn the Port of Rotterdam into a smart, connected port of the future. Already, there are sensors being applied across the span of 42 kilometers of the port both on land and in the sea to collect data about the port’s surroundings.

The Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and on route to becoming a smart, connected port. (Source: Port of Rotterdam)

Most importantly, the new port will have a central dashboard which will act as the brain of the entire port. The sensors will collect data and send it to the central dashboard where it will be processed in real-time via IBM’s IoT technology. Compared to the traditional radio communications among operators, the new system will drastically cut down the time it takes to communicate and manage traffic as well as prevent or respond to accidents. Operators will be able to oversee all operations of the port at once, and the new, efficient process is projected to save shipping companies up to an hour in berthing time, which translates to a cost savings of about USD 80,000 per hour.

Port of San Diego

The entire city of San Diego has been working to become a smart city and a leader in the movement towards net-zero energy consumption. The city’s port is no different. In 2013, it adopted the Climate Action Plan (CAP) under which the port has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent by 2020 and 25 percent by 2035.

The Port of San Diego uses smart technology to reduce its carbon footprint. (Source: Cleantech San Diego)

As such, the city worked with various software companies led by Cleantech San Diego to develop a smart building project. The project’s smart technology uses sensors, Big Data and IoT to monitor energy levels across the city and provides real-time data upon which places like the city’s port can operate. Essentially, the data allows port operators to identify patterns in energy consumption as well as abnormalities to respond to in real time.

This year, the Port of San Diego and the state of California will undergo a USD 24 million modernization project with the goal of implementing zero-emission freight equipment over the next 20 years, and further incorporate smart technologies to reduce pollution.

SEE ALSO: Clear Skies Ahead: Clean Fuel for Green Shipping

Port of Singapore

Singapore is the trade hub of Asia and home to one of the busiest ports in the world. Every year, 130,000 cargo ships pass through its waters, but the number looks to increase with the growth of the e-commerce industry.

The Port of Singapore is en route to becoming one of the smartest ports in the world. (Source: Singapore Ministry of Transport)

Starting last September, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and IBM jointly implemented Project SAFER (sense-making analytics for maritime event recognition) to the port of Singapore. SAFER consists of new technologies to automate port operations, manage traffic and optimize the use of the port’s resources. With the new automation technology, the port can now enforce regulations automatically and monitor all vessel movements within the port at once in real time. Not only that, SAFER makes maritime operations much safer for operators and employees on the docks with the help of AI sensors for accident prevention. For continued development, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore held the Smart Port Challenge 2017 to foster startups in developing next-generation technology for enhanced and sustainable maritime operations.

As the ports mentioned above show, the global cargo shipping industry is headed towards vast change. New technologies such as blockchain, IoT and AI will greatly enhance transportation and handling efficiency and lead to greener practices. Traditional steel containers, on the other hand, will continue to be used in immense volumes for its 100 percent recyclability, lightweight and high-strength properties.

SEE ALSO: Ask an Expert: Electric Vehicles and the Future of the Automotive Market

However, implementing autonomous transportation systems is no easy task, from perfecting the technology to sorting out legal matters. Take a look at these 6 early-adapting cities around the world that have embarked on the road to driverless transportation systems.

Singapore

Last year, the city-state became the first in the world to launch an automated taxi service. While many companies such as Uber have been testing driverless taxi systems, no one has launched a working model yet. Singapore’s autonomous taxi service launched by nuTonomy only has six cars, but the company has plans to have a full fleet of driverless taxis on Singapore roads by 2018. For now, the fleet consists of modified Renault Zoe and Mitsubishi i-MiEV electrics that have an emergency driver at the wheel and researchers who ride in the back to gather data. The service is expected to drastically reduce the number of vehicles on Singapore’s congested roads.

Singapore is the first city in the world to have a running autonomous taxi service. (Source: Auto Evolution)

Los Angeles

After much delay, city officials finally made it legal to test driverless vehicles in L.A. this year, and by 2020, the city could have fully autonomous vehicles operating on its roads. So far, 43 companies such as General Motors, Apple and Uber have testing permits in California, which means that a driver must be at the wheel, prepared to take over in case of an emergency. The Department of Motor Vehicles will finalize the rules and regulations surrounding autonomous vehicle testing in 2018. Autonomous transportation is a sector that will continue to generate much investment, and L.A. was already losing business to other cities in the U.S. due to its regulatory restrictions. With the new guidelines in place, the city can expect to be bustling with startup activity and innovative solutions to its transportation challenges.

For now, L.A. law requires drivers at the wheel of every autonomous vehicle. (Source: Los Angeles Times)

Munich

Germany is home to the most advanced automakers in the world, and in August 2017, German lawmakers drew up the guidelines for operating autonomous vehicles. Under the new guidelines, all autonomous vehicle software must be programmed in such a way that human life will be protected at any cost, over animals and property. Germany’s Transportation Ministry is the first in the world to draw up such guidelines for automated driving, and wide-implementation of autonomous transportation is expected to follow, starting with Munich.

Munich Airport now provides autonomous shuttle services between Terminal 2 and a satellite facility. (Source: Bombardier)

Recently, Munich Airport launched an autonomous shuttle service that links Terminal 2 to a new infield satellite facility with an underground train. The trains are called INNOVIA Automated People Mover (APM) 300 and were built by Bombardier. The train tunnel is 382 meters and will have the capacity to move 10,900 passengers every hour in either direction.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is another early-adapting city with plans to have autonomous transportation up and running throughout the entire city. However, the city’s first attempt at automated transportation ended badly when their automated shuttle bus collided with a semi-truck less than 2 hours after its debut. The cause of the accident was a delivery truck that backed into the bus. The shuttle was equipped with LiDAR sensors to map the roads. It was also fitted with cameras to identify obstacles on its path, and GPS locators for operators to locate the shuttle’s location. Despite the advanced systems, the city learned the hard way it cannot control what others do on the roads.

The truck hit the autonomous bus that didn’t have the ability to reverse. (Source: MBTMag)

China’s Zhuzhou City

Many good things are happening in China in terms of autonomous transportation. Recently in Zhuzhou, an autonomous, caterpillar-like bus was spotted. The Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART), was developed by CCRC, a Beijing-based company that deals with the supply of rail transit equipment. It moves along Zhuzhou roads via sensors and can travel up to 70km per hour on its electric batteries and is expected to cut carbon emissions and ease traffic congestion.

The ART looks like a cross between a bus and a train and glides through the city using sensors. (Source: Curbed)

London

In September, the UK’s first driverless bus was tested in London’s Olympic Park. Interestingly, residents, visitors and tourists were invited to take part in the test runs throughout the month of September, free of charge. Like other autonomous buses, this electric bus navigates the roads via sensors, cameras and GPS maps. So far, the tests have been successful and the city hopes to implement the buses throughout the city in the near future. Take a look at some of the initial reactions.

Going into 2018, companies such as Uber, General Motors and BMW are expected to continue investing in autonomous vehicles and ride-sharing services. As more and more cities fine-tune their regulations and guidelines surrounding such modes of transportation, the world should see driverless transportation options pop up in more places, with fewer errors, providing more sustainable transportation systems.

Cover photo courtesy of Business Insider.