As environmental concerns continue to grow and regulatory pressures intensify, reducing emissions at ports has become a critical focus for the maritime industry. Ports and terminals are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, which contribute to global climate challenges and impact the air quality of surrounding communities. Although a challenging problem to solve, this increased focus presents the opportunity for engineers and contractors to pioneer solutions that help shape a more sustainable future.

FlexTerm is a powerful simulation and emulation tool that allows ports and terminals to tackle these challenges head-on. It provides a virtual environment for optimizing operations and infrastructure planning, which helps to uncover process inefficiencies and offer actionable solutions. From fine-tuning terminal operating strategies to simulating workflows for cargo handling and vessel loading and discharging, FlexTerm can quantify the benefit of cleaner fuels and zero emission energy, empowering ports to improve efficiency and reduce emissions simultaneously.

FlexTerm: Simulating Sustainability

FlexTerm’s strength lies in its ability to analyze the complex, interconnected processes of a port or terminal and develop a virtual replica of this system — otherwise known as a digital twin. Using this technology, FlexTerm empowers operators to model “what-if” scenarios, allowing them to evaluate the impact of operational changes before implementation. This offers a safe, cost-effective way to experiment with various scenarios and implement strategies to enhance both operations and support sustainable practices.

One of the most significant sources of port emissions is due to equipment idling, such as cranes, trucks, or vessels waiting to berth. FlexTerm allows operators to simulate the situations that lead to equipment idling and explore solutions to reduce energy waste and emissions. Here are some of the ways that FlexTerm supports ports and terminals in decreasing emissions while optimizing operations:

Simulating Peak Cargo Periods

Sudden surges in cargo volume are one of the most common conflicts that can lead to congestion and delays. FlexTerm provides the ability to model these peak periods, enabling operators to test various strategies for minimizing delays and improving cargo throughput. By addressing and planning for these bottlenecks before they occur, terminals can minimize wait time and reduce unnecessary emissions.

Optimizing Crane Schedules

While vital to a terminal’s operational success, cranes are among the most energy-intensive pieces of equipment at a port. FlexTerm helps terminals create optimized workflow schedules, ensuring cranes are deployed efficiently to minimize idle times while meeting operational demands.

Reducing Vessel Idle Times

One of the most significant sources of emissions are ships waiting to berth. FlexTerm enables terminals to simulate and test various vessel berthing schedules, aligning arrivals with operational capacity to reduce the time vessels spend idling at anchor.

By identifying and addressing these operational inefficiencies, ports and terminals are able to directly reduce their carbon footprint and optimize their operations through the use of FlexTerm.

Data-Powered Ports

Ports generate immense volumes of raw data, from vessel schedules and cargo movements to equipment usage and energy consumption, but unfortunately, this data is often underutilized. FlexTerm plays a pivotal role in transforming data into actionable insights, which is key to creating more sustainable and future-proof operations as global demand increases.

FlexTerm’s simulation capabilities are powered by its ability to analyze and incorporate data from various sources across a port or terminal. For example, raw operational data—such as cargo throughput, vessel idle time, or intermodal transport patterns—can be modeled to identify inefficiencies and reveal opportunities for improvement. These insights help ports take a data-backed approach to sustainability, and balance operational demands with environmental goals.

Looking Forward

In an era where sustainability is of paramount importance, simulation and emulation are essential for transforming how ports and terminals operate. What sets FlexTerm apart from other software is the deep industry expertise that its designers and operators bring to the table. FlexTerm is supported by experienced professionals who understand the unique challenges of port and terminal operations and can identify paths towards reducing emissions and meeting environmental targets, all while enhancing operational efficiency.

For ports striving to comply with regulatory frameworks and demonstrate environmental leadership, FlexTerm offers a practical, effective solution. By addressing inefficiencies before they become problems, operators can make informed decisions that benefit the environment, the community, and their operational success.

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