The new joint terminal for passenger traffic is due for completion in 2026. The investment decision on the project was delayed, but the work for promoting the project has proceeded as per normal.
The goals are to provide a better passenger experience, and develop solutions that decrease the environmental impacts and improve safety. Enhanced digital services allow for making the port operations environmentally friendlier, reducing the carbon dioxide emissions throughout the transport chain, improving occupational safety, and increasing the safety of passengers.
The digitalisation of the port services proceeds hand in hand with the joint passenger terminal. For example the SecurePax co-operation project aims at development of telecommunications and security.
The project will be piloting methods by which passengers are identified and registered digitally, and dangerous goods are detected in the passenger area or the passenger terminal. That will allow for exchange of information with the authorities and prevent the access of unwelcome passengers and goods to ships.
In cargo services, locating technologies that serve the entire logistics chain are being developed. The truck drivers receive information on the location of the cargo to their devices, and at the gate of the port the vehicle register plate is scanned to check automatically the access pass, booking details of the cargo and the vehicle dimensions for charging, and the truck is then forwarded to wait for loading. That saves time and streamlines the logistics.
The automooring system of ships will be introduced in 2021, which will speed up the mooring and unmooring of ships. Furthermore, fuel will be saved, the emissions will be reduced, and occupational safety will improve. The joint terminal will also involve an automatic traffic control system.
”Cruise liner traffic will recover once the pandemic has been defeated. In cargo transports, we believe strongly in unit cargo and project shipments. We are experts in those and want to focus on and invest in them in the future, too. We are ready to invest in the development of the logistics and services in the port area. Let’s look together to the future and believe in our goals, despite the difficult situation”, says Erik Söderholm, Managing Director of Port of Turku Ltd.
TEXT HELI KAIJANSALO/THE PORT OF TURKU
PHOTO JARMO PIIRONEN
