Singapore PORT operator PSA Singapore is expected to launch a tender this year for the supply of the first fleet of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) or driverless vehicles to operate at Singapore’s next generation Tuas mega port. The AGVs have been deployed in a trial for over a year at the Pasir Panjang terminals and hence, there is an expectation in the industry that the tender will be rolled out soon. When contacted by The Business Times, PSA declined comment. The first tender, according to industry watchers, will call for bids for hundreds of AGVs to operate at the Tuas mega port that is set to become the single, largest automated port which is slated to open progressively from 2021. One supplier said: “If AGV is the chosen technology for PSA Singapore, thousands will be required for the Tuas mega port.” It is further understood that PSA Singapore has indicated a preference to “multi-source” which means that the upcoming tender could result in contract awards to more than one supplier. According to analyst estimates, each AGV could easily cost hundreds of thousands of US dollars. PSA has 30 AGVs on pilot trials at its Pasir Panjang terminals, 22 of which run on batteries and have been on trials since the second quarter of 2017. The rest are hybrids running on diesel and batteries. PSA contracted France-based Gaussin Manugistique, Japan-based Toyota Industries and Kalmar, a unit of Finland-based Cargotec CHS, to supply the all-electric AGVs in 2016. In 2012, Singapore Technologies… [Read full story]
Leave a Reply