Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe has confirmed an order for a further 34 Autonomous Trucks (ATs) from Shanghai Westwell Technology Co. Ltd (Westwell), doubling its fleet and cementing its position as a leader in port automation.
The first 34 ATs, deployed successfully early this year into operation at the port’s Trinity Terminal alongside conventionally driven trucks, represented Europe’s first ever successful use of ATs in mixed traffic mode operation.
Commenting on the order, Clemence Cheng, Executive Director of Hutchison Ports and Port of Felixstowe CEO, said:
“We are proud to be leading the way in autonomous operations in ports. Doubling our fleet of ATs will deliver even greater efficiency and resilience to our operation. These new units will feature enhanced sensor technology, enabling even greater operational performance for our customers.
“The continued scaling up of this project has been made possible by the recent introduction of a private 5G network at the Port of Felixstowe. As well as improving operational consistency and efficiency, the increased use of battery-powered ATs will significantly support our ambition to achieve Net-Zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035.”
Kenny Tan, Founder and Chairman of Westwell, said:
“We’re very pleased to mark this next milestone with the second batch of 34 Westwell’s ATs and the go-live of a battery swapping station. Having the port fully automated with ATs shows how far we’ve come in terms of empowering ports’ smart operation.
“None of this would have been possible without the strong partnership between the Port of Felixstowe and Westwell, which has been key to making such a pioneering project successful.
“We truly believe that with the further strengthening of the port’s network infrastructure, Westwell’s ATs and smart energy replenishment system will continue to enhance operational efficiency and accelerate the port’s transition toward its Net-Zero emissions objectives. Collaboratively, we are shaping the future of smart port operations.”
The port’s 5G network is one of the largest private networks of its kind in the UK. It provides fast, reliable and secure communication and control systems for the ATs as well as for a wide range of conventional equipment.
A newly commissioned automated battery swap station allows ATs to exchange depleted power units for fully charged ones in just five to six minutes – without manual intervention. This ensures maximum fleet availability and minimal disruption to operations.
The port’s ATs are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including 128-line LiDAR, 360-degree camera vision, monocular and stereo cameras with radar, delivering world-class levels of safety and performance.
