Navis, a leading provider of operational technologies for terminal operators and ocean carriers (part of Cargotec Corporation), has announced this week that Brazilian Tecon Rio Grande container terminal (Tecon RG), a subsidiary of Wilson Sons Group, successfully upgraded to the N4 terminal system. Focusing on modernizing operations, Tecon RG has recently invested over USD 40 mln in new equipment, which, together with the investment in Navis N4 TOS, is expected to drive a 45% increase in average terminal productivity.

Located at the Port of Rio Grande, southernmost sea port in Brazil, Tecon Rio Grande handles 98% of all container cargo that passes through the port. Being one of the few facilities along the east coast of South America that can handle some of the biggest containers ships, Tecon RG receives all of the main shipping lines that connect Brazil with the rest of the world. The terminal’s annual throughput is 720,000 TEU, with an average productivity of 55.5 berth moves per hour. With increased volumes passing through Tecon RG, the facility needed to improve its overall productivity.

Since 2014, the terminal has made several investments in equipment, gate automation and process automation on billing and customs cargo clearance, as well as upgraded its TOS to Navis N4 as part of its larger initiative to optimize operations.

The terminal has recently acquired 11 new pieces of quay and yard equipment. With 3 additional STS cranes and 8 more RTGs, Tecon RG has now a total of 22 RTGs and 9 STSs capable of serving ships with 22 rows of wide containers. On top of that, the terminal has also purchased 42 trucks and 18 semi-trailers.

Following the Navis N4 TOS implementation and acquisition of new equipment, Tecon RG is targeting an increase in productivity from 55.5 berth moves per hour to 80 MPH through the end of 2017 and then to 100 MPH as of 2018.

A customer since 1999 and the first Brazilian terminal to contract Navis, Tecon RG is also utilizing Navis’ PrimeRoute, Expert Decking and AutoStow optimization modules. As a next step in their engagement, the terminal will implement a Navis Business Intelligence project for further improvements to its management team based on terminal system data and operational insights.

Paulo Bertinetti, CEO of Tecon RG, said: “The N4 project is an important part of our strategic plan to modernize the terminal, preparing for the influx of bigger vessels and a challenging business environment, as well as reinforcing our position as the most efficient terminal in Latin America.”