Quay crane waiting times reduced by 90% at APM Terminals Gothenburg
The implementation of new standard operational procedures for container lashing at APM Terminals Gothenburg has reduced quay crane waiting times by 90% and provides an enhanced customer experience, the company said in its release.
Using ‘Lean’ methodology, which is being adopted across all of the company’s terminals around the world, a Transformation Team at APM Terminals Gothenburg identified the root cause of the time delay – inaccurate information provided to the vessel crew. As a result, the team has implemented a revised process to ensure that the information sent out to each vessel call is clear, accurate and standardized.
Vessel crews now commence unlashing in the order and sequence required to optimize the operation. The sequence is determined by a number of factors, such as container weight, optimal position in the yard or stack, and where the cargo will be loaded/offloaded next. Ensuring that the team start unlashing in the correct bay, with the right container, ensures that operators on the quay can start the discharge directly.
As a result, quay crane waiting times have been reduced by 90 percent, from 38 minutes to just four. Completing the operation faster enables vessels to continue their onward journey much sooner, with associated cost savings.
Located in the largest container port in Scandinavia, APM Terminals Gothenburg is the only terminal in Sweden capable of handling the world’s largest 19,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) vessels.
