China pone en marcha un sistema para mantener los buques acostados al muelle sin necesidad de cabos, remolcadores y amarradores.
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- Category: Puertos
- Published on Saturday, 10 January 2026 09:36
- Written by Administrator2
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A major leap in port automation just went live in China. The new system allows massive cargo ships to dock without ropes, manual crews, or long delays.
Launched on January 1, 2026, at Qingdao Port, the vacuum-based automated mooring system secures vessels in under 30 seconds. That’s a drastic reduction from the traditional 20–30 minutes required for manual mooring.
The technology uses 13 high-powered vacuum units to lock ships in place, even vessels as large as 16,000 TEU container ships. This significantly improves safety by removing workers from hazardous quay-side operations.
Beyond speed, the system reduces emissions by cutting engine idle time and improving port efficiency. Ports using this technology could handle more ship calls annually without expanding infrastructure.
Industry experts see this as a turning point for global shipping, signaling a shift toward fully automated “smart ports.” China’s early adoption positions it at the forefront of next-generation maritime logistics.