Construction of a 5G test field has begun in the Port of Duisburg. The mobile communications technology will be used to test the semi-automated control of port cranes. The aim is to increase container handling capacity in this way. The State of North Rhine-Westphalia selected the project for funding through the 5G.NRW competition and will provide around one million euros over the next two years. The project kicked off with a public kick-off event on November 3 in Duisburg’s Inner Harbour. City Director and City Treasurer Martin Murrack welcomed the project partners and wished them every success.
Semi-automated control of mobile handling equipment in inland ports has not been possible to date. The project partners aim to create the technical prerequisites for this in Duisburg for the first time. The partners involved are the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), Duisburger Hafen AG (duisport), startport GmbH, Deutsche Telekom, and POLO KNOW-HOW Industrie-Engineering GmbH. The research and development work is coordinated by Prof. Andreas Stöhr from UDE’s Faculty of Engineering.
5G.Smart.Logport
Deutsche Telekom is equipping the port site of Logport I in Rheinhausen with a dedicated 5G campus network for the project. Such a campus network is an exclusive, locally limited mobile network that can be tailored to individual technical requirements. It forms the basis for digitising the required control units. The container cranes handle the majority of cargo transshipment. Semi-automation using 5G is intended to increase the cranes’ capacity. This would allow container throughput to rise without the port needing additional space. It is also planned to use 5G technology to connect a large number of cameras and sensors across the port area. This is intended to make the movement of goods by road, rail and water even more transparent and easier to manage.
Optimised logistics processes
In addition to the duisport Group, local companies will also benefit from the deployment of the 5G campus network on the port site. With 5G technology, they can automate and further optimise their individual processes. For crane operators, this not only improves working conditions; at the same time, the new generation of mobile communications makes processes more reliable and safer. In addition, 5G improves continuity in handling operations.
As an innovation partner from the crane industry, the Duisburg-based company POLO KNOW-HOW is involved in the project. Its Managing Director, Rüdiger Tornow, sees further growth opportunities and new business areas for his company in 5G technology: “As part of this project, we want to demonstrate that 5G is the right answer to the challenges posed by the existing gap in terminals’ communications infrastructure. This opens up the opportunity for our company to provide current and future technological innovations for all equipment involved in port handling in a high-performance, reliable and secure manner.”
Alexander Garbar, Head of Corporate Development at duisport and Managing Director of startport GmbH, explains: “5G technology enables the testing of new innovations in intermodal logistics. The project results can become a blueprint for other terminals in Duisburg, as well as for hinterland terminals throughout Germany and internationally. I am particularly pleased about the close link with our activities at startport. When implementing automation, we also rely, among other things, on startup innovations. In addition, the campus network at Logport I offers ideal conditions for testing new business models from technology-driven startups in our programme.”
Hagen Rickmann, Managing Director of the Business Customers division at Telekom Deutschland GmbH, emphasises: “Here in Duisburg, Telekom not only has the opportunity to build and operate the infrastructure. Together with our partners, this project will allow us to research and develop new fields of application for 5G. Digitalisation is playing an increasingly important role, especially in logistics processes. 5G is a key driver for this. Both the Port of Duisburg and the companies operating there will benefit from this project.”
The City of Duisburg supports the initiative and expects this flagship project in the port logistics sector to attract attention across the industry. “We expect this to attract companies that can test and apply their 5G logistics solutions here in Duisburg,” says Matthias Börger, City Councillor of the City of Duisburg. “The City of Duisburg will become a driving force and role model for digital transformation in Duisburg and the region, and it perfectly complements our city’s Smart City strategy.”