Qingdao Port Debuts Fully Automated Mooring System – Todo Logística News | 04/01/26

China’s Qingdao Port has put into commercial operation the first vacuum-based automated mooring system, enabling a large vessel to berth in under 30 seconds without ropes or human intervention by using high-vacuum suction units along the quay that generate a combined 2,600 kN of holding force and dynamically adjust to wind, waves and currents. The automation removes personnel from one of the most hazardous areas of the terminal, enhances safety, significantly boosts operational efficiency —saving an estimated 200+ hours of mooring time per berth annually— and allows for additional vessel calls without expanding physical space, reinforcing Qingdao’s role as a technological leader in port logistics innovation. Link to Article