Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai, the largest automated container terminal in the world, started its trial operations on 10 December 2017, informs China Daily.

The facility was launched right according to the schedule announced earlier this year.

Phase 4 of the Yangshan Port will have the capacity of 4 mln TEU once it enters into full operation, which will later on be expanded to 6.3 mln TEU. This will help consolidate Shanghai port’s position as the world’s leading port with a total annual handling capacity of up to 40 mln TEU.

The new deepwater port in the eastern China is connected to Shanghai’s Pudong New Area by the 32.5km Donghai Bridge, the world’s longest sea bridge, and forms part of the Port of Shanghai and the Shanghai Free Trade Zone. The Yangshan Port covers 2.23 mln square meters and has a 2,350m shoreline. The port can operate completely unmanned.

The equipment that has been put into trial operation includes 10 bridge cranes, 40 rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMGs) and 50 automated guided vehicles (AGVs). At full capacity, the port will eventually be equipped with 26 bridge cranes, 120 RMGs and 130 AGVs.

According to Shanghai International Port Group, Yangshan Port’s owner and operator, the automated handling equipment employed in the project has been designed and manufactured in China. The machinery used for loading and unloading operations, including bridge cranes, AGVs and RMGs, was made by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company. The port also uses a domestically developed automated management system to ensure safety and efficiency.

“The automated terminal not only increases the port’s handling efficiency, but also reduces carbon emissions by up to 10%,” said Chen Wuyuan, president of Shanghai International Port Group.

Please see a brief video summary on the project prepared by China’s Xinhua news agency.