INDUSTRY TRENDS
All terminals and ports are committed to high levels of safety. However, a gap remains between good practice and best practice. DLM talks to some of the manufacturers helping to close it.
HANDS? A
IN SAFE
t the heart of port and terminal operations is a deep tension between safety and productivity.
“Safety should not be seen as something that slows down operations, but as a key factor in making operations more efficient and sustainable,” says Stephan Trauth, general manager of Mi-Jack Europe and board member of the Port Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA). “Terminals need to ask themselves: is it acceptable to compromise safety for productivity? The answer is clearly no.”
Key trends PEMA identifies three key trends in port cargo handling. The first is reduction of direct human exposure at the highest risk interfaces with heavy equipment.
PEMA sees this driving interest in
remote operation of equipment, enhanced operator assistance and, where operationally appropriate, higher levels of automation. “The
objective is not technology for its own sake, but more predictable, repeatable operations that reduce uncertainty and risk,” says Leopold Berthold, PEMA board member and managing director of sales and customer service at Liebherr Maritime Services. A second trend is collision and proximity
risk reduction. Here, terminals are looking for practical solutions to prevent both equipment- to-equipment and equipment-to-people incidents, particularly in dense yards with parallel operations and limited space. PEMA’s collision prevention guidance
consistently highlights that ports are inherently high-risk environments, with large machines, vehicles and people operating in close proximity. “It also underlines that risk often arises along the load path itself, where movement, visibility constraints and spatial limitations interact and that modern non- contact technologies can significantly improve safety when integrated into well-defined operational frameworks,” adds Berthold.
The third area of growing importance is situational awareness during everyday lifting operations, especially in tight operating corridors. “Beyond procedures and training, operators need clear, intuitive support when manoeuvring loads close to obstacles, container stacks or adjacent cranes,” he says. This is driving demand for products that provide real-time feedback on proximity around the load path, helping operators spot risks early.
PEMA has published extensive guidance on collision prevention, people detection and cyber security in container terminals. In particular, the joint PEMA, TT Club and ICHCA International guidance on Collision Prevention at Ports and Terminals focuses on reducing injuries, damage and disruption by explaining both collision scenarios and appropriate countermeasures. “A key message throughout this work is that technology alone is not sufficient,” says Berthold. “Effective safety outcomes depend on combining technical solutions with robust operational processes and human factor considerations.” He believes that the fastest safety
improvements are achieved by combining two elements: stronger operational discipline and effective risk reduction measures on existing equipment. “Clear segregation, defined traffic flows, training and supervision, complemented by practical technical measures, can deliver tangible benefits in a relatively short time frame,” he adds.
For Modulift, one of the most significant safety trends in port cargo handling is the move towards engineered lifting solutions.
xvi | May/June 2026 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
For lifting beam and frame manufacturer Modulift, one of the most significant safety trends in port cargo handling is the move towards engineered lifting solutions rather than improvised lifting arrangements. “Customers are increasingly aware that ad hoc or one off lifting configurations introduce unnecessary risk, particularly when handling high value or irregular loads such as project cargo, offshore
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