Belfast Harbour awarded funding to trial innovative autonomous technology at container terminal

A consortium led by Belfast Harbour has been awarded funding for a feasibility study into the adoption of autonomous technology which will see the trial of new autonomous technology for terminal tractors (TT) in partnership with Aidrivers Ltd and container port operator BCT Ltd.

Traditional TT operations contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the study will test whether autonomous operation reduces environmental impacts, increases safety and enhances operational efficiency.

Laura O’Neill, digital transformation manager at Belfast Harbour, said: “We are excited to launch this initiative, which seeks to address a critical gap in the shipping supply chain, where traditional TT operations have been a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and operational inefficiencies.