Aju Business Daily

SEOUL -- Busan, the hub of South Korea's maritime transportation, was selected in a government project to develop core technologies and commercialize an unmanned smart port logistics system that will speed up the distribution of cargo using autonomous equipment. New technologies will help reduce safety accidents and increase productivity at ports.

Smart ports use artificial intelligence, big data, Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain to increase efficiency and security. Smart port processing is automated using connected devices such as remote control cranes and unmanned cargo loaders.

The southern port city of Busan said that it was selected by the Ministry of Science and ICT to join a team that consists of nine port authority bodies to develop sensors for autonomous port vehicles and technologies for remotely controlling equipment. The project requires 14.2 billion won ($11.8 million) for five years.

Busan, some 326 kilometers (202 miles) southeast of Seoul, is currently undergoing digital transformation to turn its old facility infrastructure into connected smart facilities. A blockchain terminal-to-terminal cargo transit system was introduced to track and manage shipments in real time. Information about cargo has not shared between transport companies and shippers in the crowded port.

Blockchain uses virtual ledgers distributed to each user to keep track of changes in data in real time. Smuggling can be prevented using blockchain systems at ports and logistics centers.