Over 40% of those surveyed report an increase in throughput in the last twelve months, confirming that, despite low commodity prices, port trade has not necessarily been affected.

To accommodate these higher levels of throughput, demanded by the largest ships bringing more containers in to be processed, ports should look increasingly towards automated technologies. On the land side, automated cargo handling equipment helps to ensure efficiency: processing more containers, more quickly and more consistently.

This principle should extend to the jetty side: the opportunity to guide vessels in, berth and dispatch them, with the assistance of automation, should not be overlooked. There is a vast opportunity to reduce human error and refine scheduling.

It’s positive, then, that 74% of those surveyed are open to new technologies, showing a willingness to adapt and improve. The industry is beginning to look forward and embrace new trends.

This is reflected in the fact that so many are now using one or more forms of automated technology.

Only 7% say they don’t use any automated systems – much less than last year, when 19% said the same. In 2013, we observed that the market is behind the technology available to it, but this now seems to be changing, again evidenced by the large percentage of contractors and consultants who regarded their clients as open to change.