Have you ever been to a port?

Have you seen the large dock where ships come – rest – and leave?

If yes – it feels so Good and Grand – right?

If not – you are seriously missing something in life!

Take some time and visit – you will feel the difference!

Ok besides the grandeur of what one can see and feel – Have you ever wondered how these ships are managed at the dock?

Because the same dock is used to moor multiple ships throughout the year.

How does the crew at the dock manage these ships that get lined up in the sea or ocean – waiting for a call that space is available, and the path is clear to move ahead?

Well, if you know a bit about this – you know that managing these ships even with the help of advanced software and technology in place is – Quite Difficult!

Which leads to 2 distinct problems – Port Congestion & Waiting Time.

What are they?

Port Congestion is when you have too many ships trying to get into a port at the same time, but the port just doesn’t have enough room or capacity to handle them all efficiently.

So, what happens?

Ships end up waiting around until there’s space for them, causing delays.

Whereas,

Waiting Time – is the time these vessels spend sitting around, not moving, just waiting to dock.

While congestion is a big reason for this, it’s not the only one.

Sometimes, ships are delayed because of things like scheduling issues, slow customs processes, or even problems with the port’s equipment.

So even if the port isn’t crowded, other inefficiencies can still slow things down.

Now – you know the basics – but do you know?

“Port congestion is an ever-present challenge in global shipping, especially in regions like the Nordics and Ireland, where trade volumes are growing, and logistics are becoming more complex!”

What these results into –

➡️ Ships often sit idle at ports for hours, waiting for docking clearance or space availability.

➡️ This delay isn’t just a hassle—it’s costly and detrimental to the environment.

➡️ When ships burn excess fuel while waiting, it drives up operational costs and adds to emissions.

➡️ Plus, the longer ships wait, the more it messes up supply chains, delays deliveries, and impacts businesses that depend on timely shipping.

➡️ This problem gets even worse during peak seasons or disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic.

➡️ Global trade networks get bogged down, and it can take weeks to sort things out.

While traditional route optimization methods and port-side solutions have helped a bit, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now stepping in with advanced solutions.

AI can dramatically cut down port congestion and waiting times, bringing big improvements to the shipping industry.

How?

Let’s get to know that now!

AI excels at analyzing large datasets, making it ideal for predictive congestion management.

• • By ingesting real-time data, including shipping schedules, weather patterns, and real-time Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, AI can predict when and where congestion is likely to occur.
  • Ports can then proactively manage their traffic, adjusting docking schedules and resource allocation to mitigate potential bottlenecks.
  • This helps to smooth the flow of vessels, reduce waiting times, and increase the efficiency of port operations.

For instance,

The Port of Rotterdam (South Netherlands) uses AI to optimize berth allocation and reduce waiting times for vessels. AI-driven demand forecasting helps in predicting vessel arrival and departure times, allowing for better yard planning - Source

Even with optimized routes, ships often arrive at ports before docking space is available.

• • AI-powered Just-in-Time (JIT) arrival systems can tackle this problem by coordinating vessel arrival times with real-time port traffic conditions, ensuring that ships arrive only when dock space is available.
  • By optimizing arrival times, these AI solutions reduce the time that ships spend idling offshore, cutting down on emissions and fuel usage.

For Instance,

The Port of Hamburg (Germany) is a notable example of a port using AI for Just-in-Time (JIT) Arrival Systems to mitigate congestion and reduce waiting times.

The Hamburg Vessel Coordination Centre (HVCC) employs AI to track incoming vessels and manage traffic based on accurate arrival times. This system helps optimize port calls and improve the efficiency of vessel movements

Once a ship docks, AI can further streamline cargo handling operations through terminal automation.

• • Machine learning algorithms can identify the most efficient loading and unloading patterns, minimizing crane movements and improving turnaround times for vessels.
  • By reducing bottlenecks at the dockside, AI ensures that ships spend less time in port and can get back on schedule more quickly.

AI-driven automation tools are also making their way into robotics at ports, where autonomous vehicles, cranes, and loaders are being used to increase operational efficiency, particularly during peak shipping seasons.

AI enables real-time monitoring of both sea and land traffic, dynamically adjusting port operations to ensure smooth flow.

• • By monitoring vessel movement, port traffic, and cargo operations in real-time, AI tools can help reassign docking bays, prioritize cargo handling, or delay vessel departures when necessary.
  • These real-time adjustments can drastically reduce congestion and enhance operational fluidity.

For Instance,

The Port of Valencia (Spain) is a prominent example of a port using AI for real-time traffic monitoring and dynamic adjustments.  

AI systems at this port help predict and synchronize port-bound traffic flows, which significantly reduces congestion and improves the efficiency of cargo handling

This is what is happening in the world, but do you know there are more areas where AI can penetrate and make the impossible possible?

So, let’s get to know what else is possible with the help of AI!

While AI has shown tremendous potential in reducing congestion at port, there are several other areas within maritime logistics and port operations where AI can bring revolutionary changes.

For Example –

Beyond just managing traffic and vessel arrivals, AI can optimize the loading and unloading of cargo.

By using machine learning algorithms to determine the most efficient stacking methods and crane movements, AI-based logistic solutions can ensure that cargo operations are faster and more efficient, reducing the time a ship spends in port.

AI can also predict optimal storage configurations based on cargo types and the sequence in which goods need to be offloaded, improving overall logistics.

AI can be applied to the predictive maintenance of port infrastructure and equipment, such as cranes, conveyor belts, and other machinery.

AI-powered sensors can monitor the health of equipment in real-time, predicting when maintenance is required before a breakdown occurs.

This reduces equipment downtime and ensures smoother operations, ultimately helping to prevent delays that contribute to congestion.

AI can also be used to create dynamic pricing models for port fees, adjusting costs based on congestion levels, ship sizes, and real-time traffic data.

This encourages shippers to better plan their schedules around low-congestion periods, optimizing resource allocation at ports.

Dynamic pricing is already being explored in other industries, such as aviation, and can be similarly beneficial in maritime logistics.

While the focus is often on port-side operations, AI can also be integrated into ship systems to optimize fuel efficiency during voyages.

By analyzing real-time sea conditions, weather, and vessel performance data, AI systems can recommend adjustments to speed and course to maximize fuel efficiency.

This not only reduces costs but also contributes to sustainability efforts by lowering carbon emissions.

AI can help automate the customs and regulatory compliance processes that often cause delays at ports.

By automating documentation, analyzing cargo for compliance risks, and predicting inspection needs, AI can significantly reduce the time required to clear customs, speeding up the overall shipping process.

When we look at AI today, it’s clear we’re just scratching the surface of its potential.

There’s a lot of exciting development happening, and we can expect more advanced AI models to emerge soon, specifically designed to solve unique industry challenges.

One such solution we at Covrize developed leveraging AI was WhatsApp AI Chatbot for Coal Inventory Management.

The solution helped our client get real-time updates on shipments and also handled orders and invoices.

In shipping and logistics industry, the need for such tailored AI solutions is especially pressing.

The issues one port faces can be entirely different from another.

A more tailored approach is needed to effectively address the unique challenges that ports face.

While we may not know exactly when these specialized AI tools will be made available for use, what we can do right now is tap into the power of AI to create custom solutions that address the specific challenges of each industry.

Many industries are already using AI in their custom solutions and seeing success, and this approach holds great promise for port management as well.

By utilizing AI’s current capabilities with custom software solutions, we can find solutions to today’s problems and pave the way for even smarter solutions down the road.