The ShuntingTerminal4.0 project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure with a total of EUR 2.35 million as part of the Innovative Port Technologies (IHATEC) funding guideline. Container trains are usually moved into and within the terminals using a shunting locomotive without overhead wires, which makes it necessary to retrain the locomotives and, following the electrification of the main Oldenburg - Wilhelmshaven line, must also be used at JadeWeserPort. This process leads to additional logistical and material costs. For example, the operating regulations stipulate a brake test, which in turn requires a prior visual inspection of the wagons. This requires additional time and personnel resources.

This is why loop lashings restrict the throughput of the rail sidings. In order to optimize the time-critical shunting process and coordinate it with both container handling and train scheduling, the ShuntingTerminal4.0 project aims to test fully automated shunting with a locomotive and optimize rail operations in accordance with the requirements of container handling and environmental aspects (emission of noise and pollutants). A conventional shunting locomotive, the track systems in the GVZ and the management software are adapted in order to minimize emissions. As a rule, train movements in the GVZ are largely carried out manually via the electronic interlocking system (ESTW) and secured by safety technology. Due to the limited time available, this means that the track and terminal resources are not optimally utilized.

The following aspects serve as decisive sub-steps in the testing of fully automatic shunting operation:

Integration of rail operations - scheduling of train and shunting movements based on the advance notifications of the rail transport companies (RUs) and the requirements of the users of the planning software already in use for rail operations, CODIS HASY. Integration of the IT systems on a common platform - linking of the data for the automated, semi-automated and manual planning of shunting movements in the GVZ planning group and at the EUROGATE Container Terminal from the existing IT systems with corresponding scheduling software. In future, automatic forwarding of the data obtained in the project to the CODIS system of the project partner dbh.

Locating the shunting locomotive - implementation of a positioning solution specially tailored to the railroad sector using map data from the infrastructure to reliably and accurately determine the position of the locomotive and container trains. Automatic planning and execution of journeys with sensor monitoring of the area in front of the locomotive.

Optimization of process sequences - By linking the port-side systems with the dispatching systems from rail operations, an overall optimization of process sequences (energy-efficient use of the automated shunting locomotive through advance planning of transport orders, avoidance of unnecessary shunting movements) can be achieved using position-based positioning. By integrating rail operations into the port logistics processes, incoming and outgoing train journeys can be better scheduled and synchronized with the container handling processes. The prerequisites for the decision in favor of the JadeWeserPort as the ideal investigation and testing area for the research project were, in addition to the almost complete railroad area, low topographical complexity, homogeneous speed ranges and uniform train types (containers only), which differ only in length.

Brief portraits of the cooperation partners in the ShuntingTerminal4.0 research project:

Westfälische Lokomotiv-Fabrik Reuschling GmbH & Co. KG (WLH), Hattingen, was founded in 1914 and has many years of experience in the field of rail vehicles. The company has developed into a provider of integrated solutions for rail vehicle operators and acts as a provider for the development, production and marketing of the modular shunting locomotive within the research project. WLH is a regular initiator and participant in several national and international research projects.

dbh Logistics IT AG (dbh), Bremen, develops and operates industry solutions for shipping and ports, industry and trade as well as freight forwarding and logistics. The company is the operator of the Port Community Systems (PCS) for JadeWeserPort Wilhelmshaven, to which shipping companies, rail transport companies, customs, water police and large shippers and recipients are connected in addition to the terminal operator.

Nuremberg Institute of Technology Georg Simon Ohm (THN), one of the strongest research universities for applied sciences in Germany, is a project partner. The key topics of the university research strategy include "Transport, Logistics & Mobility", "Automation & Production Technology" and "Innovative Services". The THN's research activities, which focus on a high transfer rate of results into applications and services, are carried out at the Institute of Automotive Engineering Nuremberg (IFZN) and the Laboratory for Mobile Robotics, for example. Experience in the field of automation of shunting tasks is available, for example, in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn AG.

With over 9,000 employees at 20 locations and 40 institutes, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is Germany's national aerospace research center and space agency with a further focus on energy and transport as well as security and digitalization. The DLR Institute of Transportation Systems (DLR-TS) works on technologies, methods and concepts for the operational, technical and economic optimization of the rail system. The aims include increasing operational efficiency and performance through automation and innovative information technologies (ICT) as well as maintaining high safety standards.

As the port operator, JadeWeserPort Realisierungs GmbH & Co. KG (JWPR) assumes the tasks of a port infrastructure company. These include the collection of port usage fees, the management of its own areas, the tendering and awarding of concessions for maritime services as well as the maintenance and monitoring of the terminal-related infrastructure, including the nautical measuring equipment. An additional task of the JWPR is the preparation of a ship waste management plan and the associated collection and reimbursement of a waste disposal fee. Furthermore, the area of responsibility includes the establishment and enforcement of usage rules in the form of port usage regulations, general terms of use and an alarm and hazard prevention plan. JWPR also ensures the operation of the rail infrastructure of Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven JadeWeserPort-Marketing GmbH & Co KG as part of its business management.

Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven JadeWeserPort-Marketing GmbH & Co. KG (JWPM) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the state of Lower Saxony and is responsible for the construction, maintenance and management of the basic infrastructure of the JadeWeserPort container deep-water port in Wilhelmshaven. It also has to fulfill the tasks and duties of a railroad infrastructure company. For the landside handling of rail containers, there is a handling facility for combined transport (CT facility) operated by EUROGATE on the JadeWeserPort terminal site, which is connected to the public rail network. JWPM operates a 16-track shunting group for this purpose. The ShuntingTerminal4.0 research project will run from 01.06.2020 to 31.05.2023 with an investment volume of approx. 3.5 million euros. The implementation of the ShuntingTerminal4.0 project was audited by TÜV Rheinland Consulting GmbH. About the Innovative Port Technologies (IHATEC) funding programThe Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure supports the development of innovative technologies that help ports to manage handling volumes and improve logistics chains. The objectives of the funding programme include improving the competitiveness of German sea and inland ports, optimizing cargo handling, passenger services in the ports and inbound and outbound traffic as well as improving the digital infrastructure.