An Experimental Evaluation of the Economic Feasibility of Automated Quayside Cranes

This paper examines the possible economic benefits that may accrue from the time savings resulting from automated features installed on existing post-Panamax quayside cranes (QSCs). It demonstrates that a considerable increase in productivity of QSCs is related directly or indirectly to an expected reduction of crane cycle times. The study sets up the need for the proposed improvements through automation and explains the concepts of the systems involved. The concept offered by the proposed improvements distinguishes between the traditional system of loading and discharging of the containers and the automated methods. Optimization of the quayside operation enables the terminal operators to reduce turnaround time and port stays of containerships. The economic feasibility and sensitivity analyses in this study show that the expected economic benefits achieved from the improvement of the QSCs' performance, with regard to adoption of automated devices, far exceeds the cost of adopting such devices. Limitations of this research and directions for future study are discussed.