Welcome back to our series “We are Hong Kong”, which introduces some of our enterprises from Hong Kong operating in Thailand. In this issue, we are going to introduce to you the Hutchison Ports Thailand (HPT), one of the leading port operators in Thailand.
HPT has provided a full range of port services at Laem Chabang, Chon Buri province for almost two decades. As an origin and terminal gateway for both Thailand and neighbouring countries including Laos, central Myanmar, Cambodia and southern Mainland China, it has promptly facilitated imports and exports with accuracy and safety.
HPT has constantly enhanced its service standards to efficiently fulfill its customers’ requirements, especially during the pandemic which significantly accelerated online shopping and e-commerce activities and resulted in the growth of international logistics.
“We see all the changes that occurred during the Covid-19 era as great opportunities for our business growth. Meanwhile, they are also our challenges. The efficiency of average port business services provision reduced from 100% in 24 hours to about 70-80% as most workers and also port users fell ill and consequently could not come into the port to work,” said Anat Machima, HPT’s Chief Operating Officer.
Nevertheless, HPT swiftly adapted itself to the changes. With the benefits of the trial of e-Document and e-Payment systems before the pandemic, the services and transactions at the port have been able to persistently proceed, regardless of insufficient workforce and port users. In addition, such technology has simultaneously reduced the workplace hazards; transportation’s costs and time; and negative impacts on the environment due to less usage of papers, vehicles and diesel.
Moreover, HPT equipped its Terminal D with a “remote-control” technology in order to facilitate large container ships with a cargo capacity of 14,000-23,000 TEUs, which was the first-of-its-kind in Thailand. The technology has helped workers remotely operate both quay cranes (QCs) and rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGCs) from the remote-control room, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of the unprecedented service which requires more accuracy.
“Terminal D is the first container terminal in Laem Chabang to apply both remote-control QCs and RTGCs. During the pandemic crisis, these systems can manipulate daily operation smoothly. Furthermore, this advanced innovation plays an important role in making HPT attain its sustainability goals. Firstly, the percentage of female employees increases to 15%, which is relatively high for this male-dominated industry. The remote-control technology also grants job opportunities to the senior citizens in aging countries like Thailand in the future despite the age of retirement. Lastly, with the transformation from diesel to electrical power, HPT can become a ‘green port’, reducing the greenhouse gases emission and pollution. This is the epitome of the great achievements that other Hutchison ports around the globe can learn and adjust in their own place,” Anat added.
Terminal D is also equipped with auto gates and autonomous trucks. The latter has become HPT’s pride as it is the first port in the world to operate autonomous trucks along with human-driving ones.
“We have been trusted and allowed by our headquarters in Hong Kong to participate in new technology initiatives, create and propose pilot projects to 53 Hutchison ports around the world. The autonomous trucks, plus the infrastructure of Terminal D are some of those projects. We are proud that our Thai team’s competences are acknowledged and supported by Hong Kong.
“Terminal D embodies much of what HPT has been steadily looking to accomplish over the past few decades at Laem Chabang Port; increasing our presence, and in turn the sustainability of the Port itself. The investment into Terminal D is the collective manifestation of our work and aspiration to become a beacon for other terminals around the region to emulate. As the artificial intelligence becomes more essential to the port service, it would profit the growth of HPT’s business and Thailand’s economy as well.
“We are grateful to our headquarters in Hong Kong for its vision and openness to new ideas so that Hutchison Ports can reach its economic sustainability goals, at both regional and international levels,” Anat concluded.
