LHTE, a multimodal terminal located in the port of Le Havre, is working with AllRead. A technology company specialising in OCR software, to address a critical issue in the port environment: real-time control of container entry, exit and condition. With almost 2,000 containers transiting each week via different modes of transport, LHTE is improving its traceability as well as the operational efficiency of the control process.
Control of the entry and condition of containers
For LHTE, it is essential to check the unloading list of containers arriving by rail against the actual composition of the train. Discrepancies can occur and have consequences for the Terminal. In addition, LHTE wishes to retain visual evidence of the condition of the container when it enters its terminal. In the event of damage, LHTE must be able to prove that it occurred before the container entered its site. Finally, the Terminal needs to know which wagon the container is positioned on so that it can manage the stock of wagons on site on behalf of its rail operator customers.
LHTE was therefore looking for an efficient, cost-effective solution to read the container’s BIC + ISO code, the wagons’ UIC codes, provide visual proof of the container’s condition and finally integrate the data into its information system.
The lightweight, intelligent AllRead system
In response to these challenges, LHTE has implemented AllRead’s ARS© Rail solution. Unlike existing solutions on the market, the implementation of AllRead does not require major investment in infrastructure. Conventional cameras and projectors were installed on either side of the rail. At 6 and 11 metres respectively, at the rail entrance to the terminal. The video stream is then sent to a dedicated local server. The software, using powerful artificial intelligence algorithms to interpret the images (Artificial Neural Networks), automatically scans each video image to extract the most valuable information: the locomotive, wagons, containers and their respective codes, to deliver a digitised list of the train’s complete composition. [Read more about the case]
AllRead now delivers a complete list of containers and wagons, extracted after each passage of the train. With a detection and reading rate of over 97%, the solution has met LHTE’s requirements.
Collaboration as a success factor
An essential aspect of this success is the collaboration between the parties involved. This project underlines the importance of collaboration for technological innovation in the maritime and port sector. It also demonstrates LHTE’s commitment to operational excellence and service optimisation. Following the success of this first installation, LHTE is considering a roll-out applied to road transport.
At the end of a project implemented hand in hand between LHTE and AllRead, the multimodal terminal at the port of Le Havre now has a high-performance traceability tool for containers arriving or departing by rail.
Christophe Reigner, President of LHTE
LHTE has gone off the beaten track by opting for an innovative solution from a Spanish company. We are convinced that return on investment is one of the driving forces behind the adoption of new technologies in the port sector.