Development and Technological Innovation
of Chinese Container Logistics
Qifan BAO 包起帆
1. Overview of Chinese Container Transportation in 2012
Chinese main ports(capacity above 2 million TEUs) handled 176.51 million
TEUs in 2012, at an growth rate of 8.1% compared with year 2011.
Million TEUs
Composition of Main Ports Throughput in 2012
• International Lines:
Foreign trade container 105.83mTEUs were up 2.1% on the
corresponding period in 2011. Growth rate slowed down 3.4% due to
the unbalanced development of foreign trade.
• Domestic Trade:
Rapidly increased to 48.22mTEUs, up 16.5% on the corresponding
period in 2011.
•
Domestic Trade is the key drivers of container throughput.
Domestic Trade Container Transportation Booming
Growth rate were above 20% every year in last 10 years.
2.Overview of Container of Shanghai Port
Shanghai port, located at the
intersection of the famous golden
waterway Yangtze River and the
coastal transport corridor, is the
biggest cargos distribution center
and transshipment port in China.
Container port of Shanghai mainly distributed in three major Terminals:
Yangshan, Waigaoqiao and Wusong, with a total 45 berths, 160 QCs,
463RTGs and 6,719,946 m2 yards.
Port
Coastline length (m)
Berth
Quay crane
Yard(m2)
SCT
2,281
10
20
550,932
Waigaoqiao Phase I
900
3
11
238,014
Waigaoqiao Phase II &III
1,565
5
26
750,000
Waigaoqiao Phase IV
1,250
4
16
687,000
Waigaoqiao Phase V
1,100
4
16
687,000
Waigaoqiao Phase VI
950
3
11
619,000
Yangshan Phase I
1,600
5
18
860,000
Yangshan Phase II
1,400
4
16
528,000
Yangshan Phase III
2,800
7
26
1800,000
Total
123,896
45
160
6,719,946
The World No.1 Container Throughput
Container Throughputs of Shanghai Port, 1990-2012
Million TEUs
35
32.53millionTEUs
30
25
20
15
10
5
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
0
3. Technical Innovation of Shanghai Port
On the way to world class port, Shanghai is reinforcing its technical
innovation as the core competence.
Increase the Container Logistics Transparency and Security
Automated Container Yard
Energy-saving & Emission-reducing Reconstruction for RTGs
On Shore Power Supply for Container Vessel
Increase the Transparency and Security of Container Logistics
To increase the transparency and security in the whole container logistics, SIPG
invented the Container RFID Shipment Tag System. The system takes containers as
its tracking object. Based on the Internet, it uses technologies such as RFID, wireless
data communications to record the real-time security information of cargos, and
construct a network covering the world of container transportation. The system
allows the users learn about the right information of tagged container at any time and
any places. It makes all customers’ information access initiative, compared with
original passive one.
 E-tags
had
been
implemented
in
logistics monitoring and more than ten
international container lines, including
China, U.S, Canada, Japan, Russia,
Malaysia, etc. Particularly, Malaysia
Customs has used the e-tags in all its
200 border checkpoints.
 Based on vast practice, ISO 18186 :2011
Freight Containers – RFID Cargo
Shipment Tag System was published by
ISO on 1st Dec., 2011.
Research and Application on Monitoring System based on Satellite Communications
Satellite Positioning
Satellite Communications
Information Input
Ground Cellular
Base Station
Internet
Satellite Gground Sstation+Web Server
Automated Container Yard
2006 ， the first automated container yard in China was completed in
Waigaoqiao Phase II, Shanghai：
OCR system of intelligent gateway auto-identifies the containers;
Hoisting gear can identify various trucks；
Central control system conducts the container truck by video and lndicator lamp;
Gantry cranes finish container truck loading /unloading and stack automatically.
Automated container yard trial has well performed around one million
containers since March 15, 2006.
Energy-saving & emission-reducing reconstruction for RTGs
 It is reported that ports comprise the single largest fixed source of air
pollution. The power supply of RTG depends on its own diesel
generator，which results in a low energy conversion efficiency and high
diesel consumption, and brings huge pollution to the port city.
 Since 2006, Shanghai Port has begun to use electricity for RTG energy
supply.
Overhead electricity power sliding lines
Overhead power lines are laid on the same direction of RTG on the yard. RTG
works with electricity through an extra connecting device. Waigaoqiao Terminal of
Shanghai Port has adopted this system for years. Every year it may save 1.25 million
USD (10,902 tons of standard coal equivalent energy) and reduces 22,895 tons of CO2
emissions. There’s no more diesel engine exhaust and noise pollution.
Hybrid power system for RTGs
Hybrid power system for RTG is a good choice for Shanghai Yangshang Terminal
because of its inconvenience of using mains electricity supply. The principle is to save
the energy when crane offload container, then convert it into electricity, and being
provided to RTG when it needs. The fully implement of hybrid electrical RTGs in
Yangshan Terminal of Shanghai saves around 4 million USD (4,592 tons of standard
coal equivalent energy), and reduces 9,645 tons of CO2 emissions every year.
Super-capacitor
Room
On shore power supply for container vessel
 It is recorded that 61,873 large-scale ships berthed Shanghai Port in year 2009.
Shanghai suffers 33,800 tons of harmful substances and 912,400 ton of CO2
emitted by such ships, due to vessel’s diesel generators.
 2010，Shanghai
started the R&D and implement of on shore power supply
system.
container liner berthing on Shanghai in year 2010
Movable Voltage-variable and Frequency-variable on shore power supply system
10KV/50Hz
690V/50Hz
Variable
Voltage
690V/60Hz
Variable
Frequency
440V/60Hz
Variable
Voltage
Put out
Put in
Main power supply module＋Cable Reels Module
Successful Trial
March 2010, the system successfully provided on shore power to CSCL "new
Fuzhou" at the Waigaoqiao Terminal Phase II.
The Waigaoqiao container terminal phase II is the first container terminal
that can provide on shore power
supply. Distribution boxes for vessel are
equipped on berth. When the cable plug is plugged into the distribution box,
electricity can be provided with the frequency-variable mode of high-voltage
10kV, 50Hz to vessels (450V/6.6kV, 60Hz).
4. Development of Dry Port
 A dry port ( inland port) is an inland intermodal terminal, offering
services as the coastal ports, such is customs clearance, storage of
goods, etc.
 In China, dry port has become the focus of development in recent
years.
Cargo Contracting
Inland Port
Port Service
Cargo Tracking
virtual
dry port
Coastal Port
After years of development, dry port has enlarged its scale, perfected
the services and formed the following three modes.
 For more Source of goods, coastal ports initiatively cooperate with
inland cities to build dry ports: Ningbo Port set up more than ten dry
ports near the city and Tianjin Port constructed 22 dry ports.;
 To further develop the local economy: Nanchang built the dry port to
transshipment cargo to Xiamen Port, Shenzhen Port and Ningbo Port by
Sea-railway transportation；
 According to self-development , coastal port enterprises construct dry
ports: Harbin, Changchun and Shenyang have established dry ports
based on Dalian Port.
5. Conclusion
Outlook of Chinese Container Transportation in 2013
 Steadily increasing throughput，estimated 192 million TEUs，at an 8.5% annual
growth.
 Sustainable growth of domestic trade, at an estimated 16% annual growth.
Development Trends of Ports in China
 Eco-friendly
 Specialization , intellectualization and automation of Equipment
 Informatization