The Busan Port Authority (BPA) is launching a project to develop technology that will enable remote, unmanned operation of currently manned harbor cranes. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
BUSAN, Nov. 7 (Korea Bizwire) – The Busan Port Authority (BPA) announced on November 6 that it is launching a project to develop technology that will enable remote, unmanned operation of currently manned harbor cranes.
Container port cranes, which are essential equipment for cargo handling operations, are divided into quay cranes that load and unload containers onto ships and yard cranes that move containers within storage areas.
While all yard cranes at the Port of Busan currently operate under remote control, unmanned remote-control technology for quay cranes has only been implemented at Terminal 6, which opened in September 2022. The remaining terminals, which opened earlier, still require operators to physically board the cranes for operation.
Although remote-control crane systems require significant initial investment, ports worldwide are adopting them due to their superior benefits in operational stability, productivity improvement, and accident prevention.
The BPA plans to develop control equipment using domestic technology that can be attached to existing manned cranes for remote operation. Some core components will also be manufactured locally.
Working in partnership with Hanjin Busan Container Terminal (HJNC), the operator of Terminal 3 at New Port, the BPA has secured government funding of 340 million won through the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ collaborative R&D investment program, following site surveys and research planning.
The remote-control technology development will be carried out by MBE, a crane control solutions specialist, and PISIS Soft, a port operations information system developer.
Over the next two years, 800 million won will be invested to develop methods for automating existing manned quay cranes, alternative control technologies, and new sensors for automation and safety.
The BPA plans to implement this technology on quay cranes by the latter half of 2025, supporting field testing, functional verification, and further technological advancement.
A BPA official stated, “After completing technology development and verification, we plan to work with terminal operators to gradually transition existing quay cranes to unmanned remote control. We also plan to apply domestically developed alternative technology to yard cranes that currently use foreign technology.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
