Chinese automated container terminal sets new world record

The automated container terminal of the Qingdao Port in east China's Shandong Province on Thursday set a new world record in performance when the average single-machine operational efficiency of its bridge cranes reached 62.62 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per hour.

This achievement marks the 13th time that Qingdao Port's automated container terminal has broken the world record for loading and unloading efficiency, underscoring China's prowess in the field of automated terminal construction.

Since the beginning of the year, the port has been making continuous efforts in improving software systems, equipment, and process optimization. The smooth loading and unloading operations were achieved by its self-developed intelligent control systems.

"Since the beginning of this year, we have also integrated advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and large models to select the optimal stacking position from over 150,000 container locations within milliseconds. Additionally, by integrating visual perception and automatic guidance technologies, we have reduced the interval between moving automatic guided vehicles by 2.6 percent and increased their running speed by 3.6 percent," said Chen Qiang, manager of the software development department at the automated terminal of Qingdao Port.

The intelligent control system can also achieve millisecond-level spot selecting and dynamic data refreshing, as well as rapid equipment deployment, which greatly enhanced the level of speed, accuracy and intelligence in terminal operations.

"In April this year, the port completed another iteration and upgrade of its automated loading and unloading system. This also reduced the height of the spreader by 16.6 meters, directly saving nearly 20 seconds in the operation time for loading and unloading a single container," said Wang Peishan, an employee at the terminal.

At present, many technological achievements made by the automated container terminal of Qingdao Port have been successfully introduced to multiple ports both at home and abroad, providing a "Chinese solution" for the intelligent upgrading of traditional terminals.

Chinese automated container terminal sets new world record

The death toll in the war-torn Gaza Strip has risen to 71,769 since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted on Oct 7, 2023, with the number of injuries reaching 171,483, Gaza's health authorities said on Saturday.

In the past 48 hours, hospitals in Gaza received 17 more bodies, including 12 new deaths and five bodies recovered from the rubble, the authorities said.

Since the ceasefire agreement took effect on Oct 10, 2025, Israeli attacks have killed 509 people and wounded 1,405 others, according to the Gaza health authorities.

Israel will reopen the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for pedestrian traffic in both directions on Sunday, an Israeli government-affiliated body announced in a statement on Friday.

Israel's office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said in the statement that exit from and entry into the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing "will be permitted in coordination with Egypt, following prior security clearance of individuals by Israel, and under the supervision of the European Union mission."

The move is part of a U.S.-proposed Gaza ceasefire plan. Israel said last Sunday that it would reopen the Rafah crossing after recovering the body of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza, which was retrieved from Gaza earlier this week.

Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 71,769