BMF Port Burgas has introduced Gate Automation Technology at its Advanced Container Terminal (ACT) in Burgas.
This project, undertaken in collaboration with DSP and AllRead, aims to streamline the terminal’s operational processes—from Optical Character Recognition (OCR) access control to seamless integration with the Terminal Operating System (TOS).
Located along Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, BMF Port Burgas operates the ‘Burgas East-2’ and ‘Burgas West’ terminals. The port has committed to enhancing efficiency and competitiveness by investing in new technology and infrastructure at ACT Burgas.
These upgrades include a 15.5-metre deep-water berth, currently under construction, and a specialised yard of 54,000 square metres for container handling and storage. Once operational in mid-2025, these improvements will increase ACT Burgas’s capacity to 350,000 TEUs annually.
DSP led the integration of AllRead’s OCR technology with the NAVIS N4 TOS at ACT Burgas. Their role included configuring, testing, optimising, and providing localised training to the management teams, ensuring they could operate the new system effectively.
Additionally, ACT Burgas’s IT team managed the acquisition and installation of the necessary hardware, including cameras and lighting servers, to meet AllRead’s specifications.
Marco Fehmer, CEO of DSP, noted: “The adoption of last-generation technology is a must-have for a modern container terminal to stay competitive and offer top-quality service to its customers. Gate operations are a perfect candidate for automation and digitalisation.”
In June 2024, the automated gate system went live, achieving over 97 per cent accuracy, surpassing the project’s initial performance benchmarks.
The new system automates the Outgate control process, previously handled manually, by recognising truck licence plates and linking them to containers.
It also detects container seals to improve security. As each vehicle exits, the system validates licence plate information with NAVIS N4, allowing authorised exits while flagging discrepancies for manual checks.
Adriaan Landman, COO of AllRead, further added: “Container Terminals like ACT Burgas show a growing willingness to adopt collaborative approaches involving various partners in digitalisation projects, being themselves active players.”
In 2023, International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) partnered with Intelligent E-Processes Technologies Corp. (IETC) to improve the gate process for trucks at the Port of Manila.
