The container vessel OOCL Australia is loaded at Qingdao Port. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The automated container terminal at Qingdao Port, a subsidiary of Shandong Port Group (SPG), achieved an average single-crane productivity of 60.9 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per hour during the loading task of the container vessel OOCL Australia on Jan 1. 

This is the 12th time that the terminal has set a world record for automated terminal efficiency, paving the way for a promising 2025.

Over the past year, under the guidance of port-related institutions like customs, the maritime bureau, border control and relevant government departments, the Qingdao Port automated terminal has continuously expanded the reach of homegrown technologies and its self-developed systems, such as the automated terminal operating system (A-TOS) and the automated equipment control system (A-ECS). Seven technological innovations, including twin-lift automated loading and dual-trolley heavy-load operations, have been achieved. 

These improvements have led to substantial growth in port capacity, with an 11.1-percent increase in container volume and a 6.3-percent rise in overall berth productivity from a year earlier. A total of 27 new records have been set throughout the year.

As 2025 marks the completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), Qingdao Port is gearing up to embrace new opportunities and tackle emerging challenges. The port will enhance its technological innovation capabilities and foster new quality productive forces, all in alignment with SPG's mission to make greater contributions to Shandong's practices of promoting Chinese modernization.