REGIONAL REPORT AT THE


The adoption of new technologies ensures port operators stay ahead of the game.


Europe’s port and terminal operators remain leaders on the adoption curve of new technologies. DLM discovers why this sector is still at the forefront of sustainability and efficiency drives.


FOREFRONT


E


urope’s thriving ports and terminals sectors face some unique challenges while sharing others in common


with the rest of the world. One aspect of its regional character is clear; Europe remains in the vanguard for improving sustainability, with multiple drivers for technology adoption. “EU policy is pushing ports towards cleaner infrastructure,” says Sirma Ekiz, export sales chief for Europe, America and Oceania at BVS Cranes. “Electrification and decarbonisation are progressing very strongly because they are being driven not only by productivity goals but also by regulation, funding and corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets.” She notes that adoption as selective rather than uniform. “Europe is relatively mature in


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its understanding of these technologies, but adoption depends heavily on terminal type, size, labour model, existing infrastructure and investment priorities,” she says. It sees the transition to automation in the same light. “The market is not moving in a single straight line where every port becomes fully automated at the same speed,” she says. “In Europe, many terminals are brownfield


sites, so full automation is often more difficult than step-by-step modernisation. As such, we believe the strongest trend is not necessarily ‘full lights- out automation’, but rather targeted automation, digital monitoring, remote support, smarter controls and energy optimised operations.” Overall, Europe is progressing well along the adoption curve. “It is already well into


implementation, especially on sustainability,” Ekiz says. “But in automation, the market is pragmatic; investment decisions are usually based on business cases, site constraints and workforce realities, not technology for technology’s sake.” For Hyster, ports and terminals face


increasingly strict emissions targets and rising energy costs. “Electric and alternative power sources are becoming more sought after,” it says. From Hyster’s viewpoint, the port industry is still in the early adopter phase, with product development and pilots under way. “Two major forces are the primary drivers for port operations increasingly evaluating and moving toward adoption of electric-powered equipment – government action in the form of regulations and incentives and corporate


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