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.

An Oriental darter, a globally near-threatened species, has been spotted for the first time in Hainan, south China's island province, according to the provincial bird records agency.

At Changjiang Haiwei National Wetland Park, a relatively large Oriental darter was recently spotted atop a tree canopy. The bird has a brown head and neck, with a distinctive white stripe running from its chin down the neck. The rest of its feather appeared in darker shades.

The Oriental darter, a cormorant-like waterbird with a long neck, is primarily a fish hunter found in freshwater lakes and rivers. Listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, it's now extremely rare in China.