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In opening or expanding container terminals, operators hope to see their terminals register a high level of efficiency and productivity. Creators of such terminals start their planning by examining various factors needed for their operation such as estimated demand, operating procedure, size and quantity of equipment. Terminal operating system (TOS), for example, takes up a small portion of the total investment in a terminal, when compared to the cost for procuring terminal equipment or infrastructure. However, terminal operation largely depends on what kind of TOS is selected and applied. For even a terminal that has pricey equipment and high-caliber manpower should make them worthless if it comes without a system for their efficient operation. In this interview, we are going to take a look at those terminals that have chosen as their TOS CyberLogitec’s OPUS Terminal, and see how they have successfully carried out their project of building their TOS.
TOS implementation project at Jebel Ali Container Terminal #3
1. Please describe the project details (size, scope, duration etc.). And what is the role/position of the container terminal for DP World or in the UAE?
Jebel Ali terminal 3 is DP World’s latest venture to expand the capacity at their flagship Jebel Ali Port precinct. Terminal 3 will be an automated container terminal that uses parallel stacking to the quay, fully automated ARMG’s and Internal Transfer Vehicles (ITV’s) for horizontal transport for container transfer from quay to stack and stack to quay.
| Total Area | 720,000 sqm | Gantry cranes | 19 SPP |
| Capacity | 4 million TEU | RMG/RTG | 50(ARMG) |
| Stack capacity | 103,764 TEU | Empty container handler | 7 |
| Reefer points | 1,620 | Reach stacker | 2 |
| Berths | 6 | Tractors | 190 |
| Length | 1,862 m | Trailers | 178 |
| Depth | 17 m |
DP World (DPW) is one of the “Big 4” Global Terminal Operators (GTOs) with interests on all continents around the globe.
The DPW T3 project is expected to run for about 3 years from the very first turn of sand to a fully working operational terminal.
An initial soft go live has been done and DPW is finalising its operational requirements before going “fully live”, which will be very soon.
2. Why do they deploy/select CyberLogitec’s TOS solution?
DP World chose CyberLogitec because CyberLogitec has a very strong and competent pre-sales effort, better understands DPW’s needs, is flexible enough to accommodate them without any “dominant player arrogance,” and places a very competitive submission for the business. Upon analysis of CyberLogitec’s bid, DPW felt it was the most suitable system solution that best accommodates their business needs by possibly meeting and exceeding needs with its leading edge system architecture that can scale exponentially with the rapidly expanding Jebel Ali Port precinct.
DPW also felt that their existing TOS vendors in Jebel Ali, which currently use “legacy systems” with persistent legacy issues were not something they wanted to continue to deal with on a daily basis going forward — not to mention the continual operational outages from rebooting systems multiple times a week.
Also DPW felt that the newer version of the current TOS vendor system was not ready for mega terminals with widely reported on-going go-live issues, so they wanted to try a new vendor with newer systems written on more current platforms and not a 30-year-old system re-hashed with “makeup” to mimic a new TOS system.
CyberLogitec’s more modern system architecture which OPUS Terminal is based on, does not suffer from any legacy system issues and so does not require frequent and inconvenient system reboots.
OPUS Terminal TOS is “always more”
3. What have you experienced while you are performing the projects (problems, how to solve them etc.)?
There have been the usual minor rounds of issues to be fully expected with any large scale software project that has multiple vendors, suppliers, and a high number of key stakeholders.
These have been well documented, discussed and mutually agreed fixes, workarounds and solutions proposed and agreed to by both sides making issues “non-issues”.
As for Terminal 3, we have been extremely fortunate to work with such a highly experienced and competent team of individuals working around the clock in conjunction with the DPW Project Teams and senior management.
This has ensured consistent and open communication, better mutual understanding and empathy from both sides and has produced a more cohesive and collaborative team that has led to the Terminal 3 project’s high-level success.
4. Now the project is completed, how is the container terminal currently operating/working?
Terminal 3 will be the new flagship terminal and “centre of excellence” for terminal automation in the DP World portfolio.
We can expect to see DPW set new operational automation precedents, once T3 is finally fully live and operational.
CyberLogitec is very much looking forward to being “the leading edge TOS vendor of choice” and being part of this historical journey with DPW as it charts new territory and sets a new “high bar” for “operational standards of excellence” that will be the envy of the industry and other TOS vendors.
Interviewer: Ho-Seok Lee (General Manager, CyberLogitec)
Interviewee(Project manager): Paul Bourke (Global director, CyberLogitec)
