The Da Nang Port Joint Stock Company has focused on developing and applying information technology to production, maximising digitalization of all stages in the operational process, especially focusing on container cargo. Pioneering digital transformation in the Vietnamese seaport system has brought many benefits to the Da Nang Port; thereby, reducing costs and increasing added value for customers.

Automatic container gates at the Tien Sa Port bring high benefits. Photo: THANH LAN

With modern infrastructure and diverse services, the Da Nang Port has affirmed its leading role in promoting regional economic development.

In recent years, the Da Nang Port has continuously invested in upgrading port infrastructure such as putting into operation the project of building a yard behind piers No. 4, 5 of Tien Sa Port, equipped with 1 QCC crane, 4 ERTG cranes and accompanying technical infrastructure, meeting the needs of serving container ships up to 50,000 DWT and general cargo ships up to 70,000 DWT, passenger ships with a capacity of 168,000 GT.

At the same time, it is a leading unit in the Vietnamese seaport system in digital transformation, applying renewable energy technology and energy-saving solutions in daily operations.

According to the assessment of the Da Nang Customs Department, in addition to promoting digital transformation for businesses, the Da Nang Port also accompanies and cooperates closely with the Da Nang Customs Department in synchronizing digitalisation, enhancing the efficiency of customs procedures, customs supervision processes at warehouses and yards, thereby supporting businesses to shorten time and minimise costs.

Deputy General Director cum Chairman of the Science and Technology Council of Da Nang Port, Duong Duc Xuan, said that the Da Nang Port always aims to become a modern port in IT, pioneering in researching and applying new technologies in the world to port exploitation and management, becoming a smart port in the Vietnamese seaport system.

In 2024, the Da Nang Port recognised dozens of initiatives, applying scientific and technological advances to production with a value of over VND10 billion.

The most typical solution is ‘eCPS - Vehicle tracking system in the gantry crane using automatic machinery’ by the group of authors Duong Duc Xuan, Phan Bao Loc, Luu Van Dung and Le Ha Nam. eCps is an artificial intelligence (AI) software solution to replace human manual work.

The goal of eCps is to create a vehicle tracking system that is accurate, high-speed but more streamlined than traditional ones thanks to the use of AI. eCps uses an industrial camera connected to a computer configured to be able to identify objects using AI; infer cargo handling plans; vote for representative points of the object, calculate coordinates; display coordinates; track objects, process images, monitor operations.

The application of this solution brings benefits of nearly VND7 billion to the port. Next, the group of authors Phan Nam Hoang and Nguyen Huu Anh with the solution of Processing Krupp crane rubber drive clutches to replace new purchases and proactively repair, reduce waiting time for orders, which has benefited the port by hundreds of millions of VND.

Along with that, the solution ‘Replacing rubber conveyor belts for chip conveyors contributes to reducing costs and increasing production and business efficiency’ by the group of creators Ho Thai Thanh and Phan Nam Hoang has contributed to ensuring stable operation of equipment, without affecting the overall production and business process.

Previously, the automatic container gate system (Autogate) at the Tien Sa Port area was researched and successfully deployed by the Da Nang Port in March 2021. This is also the first port in Viet Nam to successfully deploy automatic container gates. In addition, the application of technology to QC cranes helps ensure safety in operation, preventing container collisions during loading and unloading.

Following the success of the electronic port software ePort (Electronic Port), AutoGate, the invention of eTractor - installed on all tractors to receive signals in the container ship exploitation chain, to ensure traffic safety and save equipment investment costs. At the same time, the unit has successfully researched and built the eCPS automatic vehicle monitoring system using AI. Although this project has a low investment value, it has scientific factors and is particularly popular in the seaport system, contributing to increasing ship exploitation productivity and ensuring labour safety for workers.

According to the Da Nang Port leader, in the coming time, the unit will focus on completing digital transformation solutions in the enterprise, optimising processes, digitising documents and creating the most favourable conditions for customers.

Therefore, the port will continue to promote digital transformation activities such as investing in the eMap Digital Map System for the entire port, which is software to digitise the map of the Tien Sa Port and devices participating in container exploitation in real time, integrated with TOS software; deploying a solution using Robots to read and take pictures of seal numbers at the container gate; deploying a solution using an industrial Robot system to check, read, and take pictures of seal numbers at an entrance container gate; system to collect and display management indicators to serve the operation and statistics of the port.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by A.THU