Case study

Port of Felixstowe

Complex real-time scheduling - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

The Port of Felixstowe is the UK’s largest container port. Container handling is an increasingly competitive market and, while shipping companies are demanding that vessel turnaround times be reduced, the size of vessels is increasing. To maintain its position as the UK’s premier port, Felixstowe aimed to increase the throughput of the quay cranes in lifting the containers on and off the vessels without increasing the level of resource and, therefore, cost.

After an initial assessment of the port’s operations it was found that the greatest throughput bottleneck was due to the inefficient use of tugs (lorries), which transport boxes to and from the quay cranes. A real-time Tug Scheduling System (TSS) developed by PA in close co-operation with the Port has meant the quay cranes and tugs are scheduled more efficiently, almost doubling throughput without any extra equipment or resources. The system has also enabled the Port to monitor and control its operations more effectively by providing accurate and up-to-date information to vessel controllers and managers.