PERFORMANCE
LEADING THE CHARGE IN DIGITALISATION The pandemic and modern challenges have rapidly increased the embrace of digital adoption in every industry and ports are no different
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION The largest port on London's the river Thames, the Port of Tilbury, underwent a digital transformation in 2018 with the integration of a training simulator for new workers. Owned by Forth Ports, the Tilbury site is in a premier position in the south of England for timely short haul rail distribution and is within 120 miles of 70% of the UK's population, making the port a vital link in the distribution of goods in the UK. As a key player in the UK port market, Tilbury is known for its award-winning Logistics Training Academy, which offers a range of training and educational programmes to benefit the surrounding communities. Forth Ports chose to integrate a 13 screen Vortex simulator designed to support training and education efforts.
(During the pandemic) Tilbury was able to continue with its recruitment programmes and training regime thanks to the simulator
investments, like straddle carriers and ship-to-shore gantry cranes, benefit from experienced, developed workers.” The simulator enables the company to not only teach with state-of-the-art technology, but also analyse the data of trainees to establish how their learning is going, thanks to the instructor operating station, which analyses the trainees' progress. “Gone are the days where you could readily get acceptance to put a trainee on equipment to train on shipping vessels, now it's all about efficiency,” said Mr Wallace. “We strive to be quicker and better all the time, so using equipment for training when an experienced worker could be using it slows down the efficiency and productivity of the port, which is where the simulator comes in.” With trainees being able to learn while the port is still running at a high productivity, the simulator has proven to be an asset. It can be used 24/7, in all weathers, so there is never a delay on the learning process. And it removes health and safety risks at
8 The simulator allows the port to train candidates behind a window or in a separate room
Photo: Port of Tilbury
ST Engineering Antycip supported CM Labs who provided Tilbury with the simulation platform. “The UK is now in a very different place to where it was five years ago, due to Covid and to a degree, due to Brexit,” said Stuart Wallace, chief operating officer for Forth Ports. “Our short-term investments, like the simulator, need to support training and skillset initiatives so our long-term
Photo: Port of Tilbury
ST Engineering Antycip, an award-winning UK-based simulation specialist, has been supporting ports in implementing modernised technology to increase efficiency and support skill development of workers. “Over the last several years, ports across the UK have begun to digitise in order to help overcome today's challenges,” said Amir Khosh, ST Engineering Antycip's business development manager. “New technologies and training tools are proving invaluable to the progression of the industry.”
26 | SPRING 2021
8 The simulator has proven to be an asset for the port
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