Photo: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, 2012.

Container Yard Operations Control Room, Manga Terminal, Cartagena

Managing the flows of a container yard is a complex operation requiring sophisticated software and telecommunication systems. As a buffer between the containership and the hinterland, the yard supports three storage functions; storing inbound, outbound and transshipment containers. In recent years, Cartagena has become a significant transshipment hub in the Caribbean, which has placed pressures on terminal operations as the number of transshipment containers increased. With limited real estate for expansion, the Manga Terminal (part of Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena) is using stacking heights of five containers in its yard. This increases the density of yard operations and a more productive use of the available real estate, but requires rubber-tired gantries and careful management to avoid unnecessary container moves (e.g. retrieving a container at the bottom of a stack).