Kramer Group, a major Rotterdam depot and container terminal operator, together with StreetDrone, a provider of autonomous yard truck technology, and Terberg, Europe’s largest manufacturer of yard trucks, have joined forces to deploy autonomous yard trucks across multiple locations in the Port of Rotterdam.
The groundbreaking project, set to span the next two years, will introduce six autonomous yard trucks to the port, commencing at the Kramer City Terminal later in 2023 and expanding to the Maasvlakte Container Exchange Route in 2024. By leveraging the combined expertise of Terberg and StreetDrone, the collaboration is poised to deliver a comprehensive autonomous solution for Kramer Group and their employees.
The groundbreaking project, set to span the next two years, will introduce six autonomous yard trucks to the port, commencing at the Kramer City Terminal later in 2023 and expanding to the Maasvlakte Container Exchange Route in 2024. By leveraging the combined expertise of Terberg and StreetDrone, the collaboration is poised to deliver a comprehensive autonomous solution for Kramer Group and their employees.
Safe handling
Using a combination of StreetDrone’s autonomous driving and remote teleoperation solutions, the group expects the new technology to alleviate several hazards and challenges in the port. This will empower Kramer’s workforce to move containers with heightened precision, efficiency, and safety.
Terberg will provide the high-end vehicle platform for the autonomous solution, while StreetDrone will leverage its technology stack to enable safe and efficient teleoperation and self-driving capabilities. Kramer will weigh in with their expertise, and Solid Port Solutions, a Rotterdam-based port consultancy firm, will support the management and delivery of the project.
Speaking about the collaboration, Andre Kramer, CEO of Kramer Group, comments, “Technologies that enable us to handle the 900 000 container movements we complete each year, in a safer and more efficient way, will help us strengthen our position as the handler of choice for customers moving containers through the Port of Rotterdam”.
Two pilots
Rob van Hove, CEO of Terberg Special Vehicles, adds, “As a Netherlands-based company, we are excited to be the first to deploy autonomous yard trucks at our home port in Rotterdam.”
With the first vehicles already planned for production, the pilots will run at both locations until early 2025, after which the partners aim to scale operations rapidly, adding several additional autonomous yard trucks to the fleet.
