Optical character recognition - Photo registration of containers at the gate makes for a more efficient port

From April, containers being transported in and out of the terminal in Copenhagen will be registered photographically and digitally rather than manually. The experience will be used in the forthcoming terminal in Outer Northern Harbour.

Henceforward, containers being transported in and out of CMP’s terminal in Copenhagen will be registered photographically using an OCR portal, instead of manually by the staff at the gate.

OCR stands for Optical Character Recognition, a system which takes pictures of the container from different angles, and thus reads which container is being handled, where it is going and what condition it is in etc.

The aim of implementing the OCR system at the container terminal in Copenhagen is to create an even more efficient port with better documentation. At the same time, it enables time to be made available for other important tasks in the port, as a proportion of the work that is performed when checking in and out is now being digitalised.

”We are becoming more efficient in relation to consumers and drivers, particularly in terms of the gate in/gate out flow, and implementing the OCR system means that we are taking another step towards digitalisation”, says Anja Fie Pedersen, project manager for the implementation of OCR at CMP.

”We are digitalising our data, and can thus offer the lorry drivers a faster service. In addition, we also want to be able to offer our customers image documentation of the containers, which can be used in processes such as claims. At the same time, we will make use of the experiences we are currently gaining, both in relation to processes and methods, and which is important for the establishment of the future container terminal in Outer Northern Harbour”, she continues.

”There is no reason to wait for the new terminal to be completed. We are already testing the entire flow, so we are addressing, for example, drivers’ needs. We have the opportunity to observe the solution working internally in CMP together with the suppliers. Whether it is optimal, or whether we can make it even better?”, Anja Fie Pedersen says.

The OCR portal was supplied by CamCo, and the system is expected to be operational by April this year. The new system will also entail a new carriageway for the lorries into the container terminal.

”When the new system is operational, it will also provide more time for business development. We must think innovatively in order to further digitalise and automate the office procedure in the port”, Anja Fie Pedersen says.