For today’s ports, secure wireless connectivity is no longer a “nice to have”. As we head towards 2050, reliable connectivity that enables emissions to be accurately and continuously measured, monitored and recorded is more of a “need to have”. Connectivity and reliable networks are the veins and arteries of maritime and port decarbonisation. You can’t decarbonise without digitalising.
Berth planning is one example. Traditionally, it did not require real-time data or connectivity. It was simply done via pen and paper. Port operators and berth planners would manually assign ships to berths and communicate via telephone or email. The process largely relied on observations and was prone to human error and large inefficiencies. A ship could arrive in port earlier or later than expected and spend days or even weeks idling, burning fuel, and polluting the environment. But there was no way to avoid this. The ship operator and the port would have had no way of knowing that the vessel would arrive outside its scheduled time.
Manual processes such as this meant that data could not easily be safely stored or shared with stakeholders. Locked up in manual paper-based systems made transparency and flexibility virtually impossible, making reactive rather than proactive the typical approach. More efficient digital solutions are now possible. With the growing availability of the Internet of Things (IoT), private cellular connectivity (4G and 5G) offers an abundance of opportunities. Not only to obtain access to real-time data but to apply advanced analytics to turn raw data into real value.
Digital twins provide a good example of how connectivity and decarbonisation go hand in hand. A digital twin is simply a digital representation, or “twin,” of a real site, including its physical environment and infrastructure. Real-time information about the site is collected from IoT sensors, videos and other data sources, simulated in the digital twin and analysed with AI. In the case of a port, a digital twin can be used to simulate and, therefore, better understand traffic patterns within a port and where inefficiencies lie.
In the berth planning example discussed above, a digital twin would generate a continuous flow of data between the vessel and the terminal to predict the vessel’s arrival time more accurately. Perhaps poor weather has pushed back the vessel’s ETA. Using connected technologies for real-time updates as well as AI for intelligent forecasting, deviations in arrival times could be communicated and possibly even predicted to both the ship and port operator. The port operator could then modify berthing arrangements, and/or the ship operator could modify its vessel speed to arrive at a more suitable time. This avoids the ship idling or being subject to demurrage payments if the terms and conditions of the charter party are breached. A digital twin also allows the port operator to review the outcomes before they are implemented in real life.
However, deploying a digital twin requires reliable wireless connectivity. They depend on a continuous flow of data between ship and shore, as well as between sensors and other monitoring devices. Digital twins and other digital platforms often process large volumes of complex data, both present and historical. High-quality reliable connectivity is essential for efficient data processing and management. Without this, the digital twin won’t be able to provide meaningful insights and the opportunities to identify emissions sources and subsequently reduce them are eliminated.
Overall, modernised connectivity and digitalisation are imperative for decarbonising maritime commerce. Leveraging real-time emissions data and innovative technologies like digital twins, ports can boost efficiency, cut pollution, and meet sustainability targets. Though transitioning from manual and analogue processes poses challenges, the environmental and competitive benefits make digital transformation a necessity. With proactive collaboration between stakeholders, ports can reap the advantages of analytics and automation to chart a cleaner course towards 2050.
For a more in-depth understanding of the topics covered in this article, refer to our latest report in partnership with Ericsson, Getting Ports to Net Zero. This comprehensive guide provides an introduction to port emissions reduction and why advanced networks such as 5G must be considered as part of the journey to net zero.
