Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe has confirmed an order for 34 additional Autonomous Trucks from Shanghai Westwell Technology, doubling its fleet capacity and reinforcing its leadership position in port automation.
The initial 34 ATs, successfully deployed earlier this year at the port’s Trinity Terminal alongside conventionally operated trucks, marked Europe’s first successful autonomous truck implementation in mixed traffic mode operations.
Commenting on the order, Clemence Cheng, Executive Director of Hutchison Ports and Port of Felixstowe CEO, stated that these new units will incorporate advanced sensor technology, enabling superior operational performance for our customers.
The continued project expansion has been facilitated by the recent implementation of a private 5G network at Port of Felixstowe.
Beyond improving operational consistency and efficiency, increased battery-powered AT utilization will significantly advance the ambition to achieve Net-Zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035.
Kenny Tan, Founder and Chairman of Westwell, commented that achieving full port automation with ATs demonstrates our progress in empowering smart port operations.
The port’s 5G network represents one of the UK’s largest private networks of its kind. It provides rapid, reliable, and secure communication and control systems for ATs as well as conventional equipment.
A newly commissioned automated battery swap station enables ATs to exchange depleted power units for fully charged ones in five to six minutes – without manual intervention. This ensures maximum fleet availability and minimal operational disruption.
The port’s ATs feature cutting-edge technology, including 128-line LiDAR, 360-degree camera vision, monocular and stereo cameras with radar, delivering world-class safety and performance standards.
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