Editor’s note: Martin Pilsch, is President of Equip-Right, a company specializing in both the research and sale of marine cargo handling equipment.By Martin C. Pilsch, AJOTEveryone in the business of operating seaports has been challenged at one time or the other. At the marine terminal level, challenges are a routine affair, bringing out the best in management, operations, labor and equipment on a daily basis. Today, many opportunities are guided by these challenges, rather than creating them, and the technology and equipment sectors have willingly stepped in to accept their role as part of the industry. At seaports, there are many challenges to include increases in vessel sizes, the requirement for increased cargo capacity, the development of adequate terminal controls, the reduction of environmental impacts and the reduction of operating costs. Within the boundaries of local constraints, the resolution of the conflict between volume and capacity involves the creation of an atmosphere where the combination of human capability and technological development can provide the advantage. As a long-standing partner in the success of modern marine terminals, cargo handling equipment manufacturers have accepted this challenge along with two distinct challenges of their own:
  • Equipment manufacturers must develop innovative applications that will attract terminal operators. This includes the knowledge of what the terminal operator requires to accomplish his mission and the ability to anticipate a number of elements that may be considered local issues;
  • Secondly the manufacturer must produce a viable product. This involves development and manufacturing in a manner that will allow them to capitalize on the opportunity presented by the marine terminal industry.
Ultimately, if these challenges are met, the manufacturer can sell the right equipment, at the right time, at a reasonable price, which in turn will produce a reasonable profit. How to combine these elements in a successful manner is the equipment manufacturers’ ultimate challenge. Numerous manufacturers have developed innovative applications only to fail to produce their product in a manner that generates lasting interest from the users. Others have developed the ability to produce their product only to find that they cannot sustain their operation during inevitable down turns in the market. Within these challenges, many others presented by port and marine terminal partners also can impact the equipment manufacturer’s ability to react to the market in a timely manner. Today, ports face a multiplicity of challenges with limited resources to resolve them. The inability of public entities to underwrite large investments without the hope of a “public/private partnership” only exacerbates the problem. For those ports capable of developing increases in vessel service, the ability to add necessary berthing and adequate water access is limited by the availability of adequate funding. Larger vessels mean more cargo and vessel owners and terminal operators demand larger and faster equipment. Facility expansion is also limited by funds and many operators tend to look to the equipment manufacturer to assist in resolving congestion by the development of yard equipment to handle the job. Inland access and environmental considerations have become additional drains on financial assets. Dr. Mathias Dobner, the head of manufacturing and technology development at the German crane and port technology firm, Gottwald Port Technologies, summarized his views on the solution to many of the challenges facing the port and marine terminal industry. Speaking in early 2000, Doctor Dobner indicated that, “Automation and technology allows the achievement of greater productivity at lower cost.” Today we look upon that statement as the most basic of guidelines, however, without realizing it, Dr. Dobner challenged the world’s marine terminals industry to adopt this premise as their future. He encouraged the indus