整理/中国视觉网记者 胡小安

Port of Hamina is the predecessor among world harbors by utilizing machine vision for port gate functions. The modern port faces increasing logistical challenges, which place greater demands upon the ports infrastructure. At the same time increased competition between rival ports and customers ever increasing expectations, relative to service, efficiency and reduced handling times, are also placing greater demands for the infrastructure. High service levels, improved efficiency and faster handling times require enhanced cooperation between all parties, such as operators, harbour and stevedoring companies and customs, acting in the harbours.

New Visy Gate Management system in Port of Hamina offers tools for port customers to operate their supply chain and delivery control. Port security and traffic safety are increased due to precise and efficient gate management.

Fluent entrances without queues

Gate Management system is delivered by Finnish Visy Oy. System utilizes optical character recognition to recognize the transport units by license plate number and container ID and ISO-code. Based on recognition results the system determines if the customer has a valid permission to enter or exit the port area. If the license is valid, the boom is opened immediately. With driving instructions on guiding display the system enables fluent entrances at port area without queues. Also container and trailer visual damage inspection and unit measurement beside the access control are features of Gate Management system in Port of Hamina. The access control is delivered by Visy’s partner SysOpen. 

Logistics and Security

Mervi Tykkälä-Posti, Development Manager in Port of Hamina, sees the advantages of the Gate Management system in optical character recognition and quick data transfer between port of Hamina and its customers. “Need for better safety for goods and operations was the main starting points of the system”, says Mervi Tykkälä-Posti. Truck and trailer or containers are imaged at the entrance and exit gates. Images and recognition results are saved into database. Also the length, width and weight measurement of the load are important as well as the visual damage inspection images. If the arrived container is somehow damaged it can be noticed and required actions can be made. Visual damage inspection operates to enable the tracking the damaged cargo. Images can be browsed everywhere in the world via Internet when customer has the user ID and password. It is more efficient and easier to recognize transport units, to control operations at the port area and to guide traffic on-line by guiding displays with the help of the system that is designed to serve port operations. 

More power to information flow

At the port area operate nearly 60 expert enterprises in the branch of logistics and port operations. Visy Gate Management enables them to get needed data from gate operations and communicate with Port of Hamina. Enterprises are able to permit the access licences at their own workstations.  While transport unit arrives to gate, port information system returns the data to commissioner. The commissioner transfers the data to its own clients. 
Development Manager Mervi Tykkälä-Posti appreciates the system reports. With the help of reports transport units can be guided more efficiently. Reports show the volumes and volume peaks that easies guiding machine movements at port area.  Throughput times of transport units are easily available. Very important feature is also the reports of dangerous goods. 

Customs a part of the game

Port of Hamina situates close to the border between Finland and Russia. Visy Oy has also delivered a License Plate and Container Recognition application, so called Visy Border Guard system, to Finnish Customs to the Vaalimaa border station at the border between Finland and Russia.  It is natural that The Customs is one player in the flow of information relating port operations. There are a lot of expensive cargo in the ports and passing borders. The Finnish Customs has a user interface to the Gate Management system in port of Hamina. Visy Border Guard system at Vaalimaa border station has the information if the transport unit is already cleared at the port customs in Hamina. Therefore the transport unit does not to be cleared at Vaalimaa border station once again makes border crossing easy and fast.