SIMIC

The company emphasised that "the test proves that the innovative technology works in the real world".

More than 63,000 container moves have been completed since the facility, which can hold 792 containers at a time, was commissioned at the beginning this year. The test exceeded expectations with BOXBAY performing faster and more energy efficient than anticipated, the company said in a statement.

BOXBAY is a Joint Venture between DP World and German industrial engineering specialist SMS Group. The system stores containers in slots in a steel rack up to eleven high. It delivers three times the capacity of a conventional yard in which containers are stacked directly on top of each other, meaning the footprint of terminals can be reduced by 70 per cent.

Individual containers can be accessed without moving any others. The whole system is designed to be fully powered by solar panels on the roof, reports UK's Seatrade Maritime News.

"This test proves that BOXBAY can revolutionise how ports and terminals operate. The technology we have developed with our joint venture partner SMS group dramatically expands capacity, increases efficiency, and makes the handling of containers more sustainable.

BOXBAY is part of DP World's vision to apply innovation to enable global trade and be a provider of smart logistics solutions," commented Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group chairman and CEO of DP World.

Modifications made during the trial compared to the original design further improved performance and significantly reduced investment required for future installations. High performance levels of BOXBAY - 19.3 moves per hour at each waterside transfer table to the straddle carrier and 31.8 moves per hour at each landside truck crane - will also reduce the equipment needed in a terminal. Operating costs are also lower than anticipated, with energy costs better by 29 per cent, all at significantly reduced maintenance costs, DP World said.