New port technology conference debuts at CeMAT

Digital processes for ports will be the main theme at the new CeMAT Port Technology Conference making its debut on 25 April as part of CeMAT 2018 in Germany.

Experts from industrial and transport enterprises estimate that 40 to 50% of total transport costs originate in ports.

This share of the overall cost of transport chains translates into enormous savings potential for inland and sea transport carriers – provided they are capable of implementing consistent digitization strategies when moving goods.

Manufacturers and retailers have said for a number of years that any “Industry 4.0” digitization strategy also needs to be adopted by logistics service providers and ports.

But seaports themselves are facing a series of challenges due to the continuous increase in the size of container vessels and the consequent infrastructure capacity bottlenecks as well as a shortage of skilled workers in the transshipment sector and new environmental regulations.

All of these factors are a frequent cause of problems in the quality of service and reliability in transshipment at the seaport level.

Speakers at the international CeMAT Port Technology Conference – taking place for the first time in co-location with Hannover Messe – will delve into the causes and practical impact of existing performance deficits in ports, while at the same time exploring tried and tested solutions that consistently apply digital processes.

The list of speakers includes Stephan Muhle, Undersecretary in the Lower Saxony Ministry for Economics, Labor, Transport and Digitization and Daniel Hosseus, Senior Managing Director of the Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS), along with representatives of the shipping industry and the transport and service sector, plus a terminal operator.

The conference is aimed at trade fair visitors from industry and the retail/wholesale trade as well as from the logistics industry and ports.