Weifang Port Selected as a National 5G Factory

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the "2024 5G Factory Directory". After recommendations from various departments and expert reviews, 400 5G factory projects were selected. The "Weifang Port General Dry Bulk Terminal Full-Process Automation 5G Production Line" Project of Bohai Bay Port Group run by Shandong Port was successfully included, making it the only project from Shandong Province in the maritime transportation sector to be listed in the 5G factory directory.

A 5G factory refers to an advanced manufacturing facility that extensively applies digital technologies, particularly 5G, to the production site. It features widespread connectivity among production units, deep integration of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT), full utilization of data resources, and efficient empowerment of innovative applications. As a result of the deep integration of "5G + Industrial Internet" in the industrial sector, 5G factories have garnered significant attention from leading manufacturing enterprises.

In the five years since the establishment of Shandong Port Group, Bohai Bay Port has focused on technological innovation as a key strategy, enhancing core competitive advantages and striving to build an internationally leading smart and green port, guided by new quality productive forces. In October this year, Bohai Bay Port Group's Weifang Port became the first "zero-carbon port" in the country. The full-process automation project at Weifang Port's general dry bulk terminal is a key initiative for the "zero-carbon port". With the empowerment of 5G technology, it aims to create a zero-carbon intelligent model for general bulk terminals, while innovatively developing "five systems and one platform" to drive the digital transformation and upgrading of smart ports.

Weifang Port integrates technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, laser scanning, automatic control, and intelligent recognition in an all-encompassing manner. It employs the Beidou differential positioning system, laser scanning, video surveillance, and absolute encoders, combined with standalone control systems, a digital yard system, and ECS systems to upgrade the automation of general dry bulk terminals. It is the first port in China to achieve full-process unmanned operations, reducing the number of personnel on the operation line by over 70% and cutting energy consumption costs by more than 70%.

Weifang Port has built a fully digitized material yard through its dry bulk production system, digital stacking yard system, and equipment control system, achieving a unified terminal management system. This enables faster and more accurate unloading operations, reducing cargo loss and ship detention time, enhancing operational quality and customer satisfaction, and improving cargo turnover efficiency.