Technology

Safety in Terminals: A Daily Reality

Container terminals are dynamic and unpredictable environments. Trucks, cranes, and people are constantly on the move, often working under pressure. For terminal operators, ensuring safety is not just about avoiding accidents—it’s about keeping operations efficient, reliable, and secure.

The introduction of automation raises an important question: Can autonomous systems operate safely alongside people and existing processes?

The answer lies in systems that prioritize safety at every level.

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Safety is Built into the System

Safety starts with design. Any solution operating in busy, mixed-traffic environments must be developed to the highest safety standards. For us, this means conforming to the Machinery Directive and working toward full CE conformity.

Beyond compliance, safety is a principle built into every stage of development. Autonomous terminal tractors are equipped with advanced sensors and intelligent control mechanisms to detect and respond to risks in real time.

Key measures include:

• Proactive Obstacle Detection: Sensors continuously monitor the environment, detecting obstacles, vehicles, or pedestrians early and assessing potential risks in real time.
• Smart Responses to Unpredictable Behavior: The system adapts to unexpected situations, such as vehicles not following traffic rules, by making safety-first decisions, such as slowing down or stopping when necessary.
• Risk Assessments: Before deployment, comprehensive risk assessments identify and address safety challenges specific to your terminal. This process considers all expected scenarios, ensuring safe operations alongside people, vehicles, and other equipment.
• Continuous Improvement: Live operations provide valuable data, allowing for constant refinement of safety protocols. Over time, this deepens our understanding of the terminal environment and strengthens the system's performance.

Responding to Challenges in Busy Terminals

Mixed traffic presents one of the biggest challenges in terminal operations. Human-driven trucks, diverse equipment, and people moving around create a complex environment where quick, accurate decisions are essential.

Our system is designed to navigate these complexities by:

• Using Advanced Sensors: The system’s sensors monitor the environment continuously, detecting obstacles, vehicles, or pedestrians early.
• Balancing Safety and Efficiency: When confronted with unclear situations, such as blocked paths, the system assesses risks and adjusts its route or stops only when necessary.
• Maintaining Safe Operations in Mixed Traffic: Advanced sensors and monitoring systems allow the system to operate safely around people and vehicles while minimizing disruptions.

Addressing Cybersecurity: Protecting Your Operations

Safety extends beyond physical operations. In today’s world, cybersecurity is critical for protecting both systems and data. As terminals become increasingly digital, operators need solutions that guard against unauthorized access and external threats.

To ensure system security, we follow a defense-in-depth strategy, which includes:

• Network Isolation: Critical functions, like vehicle control and task dispatch, are isolated from external networks. This containment ensures that even if a breach occurs, the impact is limited.
• Data Encryption and Firewalls: Sensitive data remains protected through encryption, while firewalls prevent unauthorized access.
• Intrusion Detection: Unusual activity is flagged immediately, enabling early detection and a swift response.

These measures comply with standards like GDPR, ISO 27001, and IEC 62443, ensuring cybersecurity is maintained throughout the system’s lifecycle.

Collaborating on Safety Protocols

Terminals often have unique safety protocols. Our system is designed to align with your specific requirements to ensure seamless integration into your operations.

Steps include:

• Risk Assessments: Conducting detailed assessments to address unique challenges before deployment.
• On-Site Testing: Thorough testing in your terminal environment to verify reliable performance and adherence to your safety standards.
• Collaborative Customization: Working closely with your team to adapt safety protocols to your operational needs wherever feasible.

Responding to Incidents: Support You Can Rely On

The focus is always on preventing incidents, but if a technical issue occurs, a quick response is essential to keep operations moving. Support is available at three levels:

1. Self-Service Resources: Comprehensive documentation and training empower teams to handle routine issues independently.
2. Remote Support: Experts can diagnose and troubleshoot issues remotely, minimizing downtime.
3. On-Site Support: For complex challenges, engineers can be deployed to ensure safe and reliable operations are restored.

Additionally, the system’s design includes:

• Containment and Isolation Protocols: Critical operational functions are kept isolated to prevent broader system impacts during potential cybersecurity incidents.
• Immediate Threat Response: Intrusion detection alerts the team to unusual activity for swift action to maintain safety and operations.

Safety as a Shared Priority

Automation can deliver value only when it works reliably alongside people, vehicles, and processes. By integrating safety at every level, from advanced sensors and risk assessments to cybersecurity protections—autonomous systems can address the challenges of terminal operations safely and effectively.

For terminal operators, safety is not just a requirement; it is an operational necessity. With FERNRIDE’s systems designed to adapt, respond, and continuously improve, you can confidently automate your terminal while keeping your operations secure.

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