UNIKAI & AKQUINET Advance Digital Transformation at Hamburg’s O’Swaldkai Terminal

UNIKAI Lagerei- und Speditionsgesellschaft mbH, a subsidiary of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), and IT service provider AKQUINET have successfully completed the AKIDU project, marking a major step toward digitalizing handling processes at the multi-purpose O’Swaldkai terminal in the Port of Hamburg. The project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) under the IHATEC II programme, focused on improving efficiency and sustainability in break bulk and RoRo cargo operations.

UNIKAI specializes in handling roll-on/roll-off cargo and oversized project cargo, such as turbines, cranes, and special vehicles. These goods are difficult to standardize and until now could only be digitally recorded to a limited extent. With increasing efficiency requirements and changing land use at O’Swaldkai, the company sought new digital tools to modernize its processes.

The AKIDU project — short for automated, AI-integrated dispatching for universal terminals — delivered several key innovations. Among the most significant was the development of a software prototype for forward-looking land use planning. This tool enables the needs-based allocation of yard space based on notifications, providing greater predictability and more efficient use of limited space.

Another highlight is the intelligent storage space management system. The advanced “Yard Allocation Filter” automatically determines optimal storage spaces for various cargo types, ensuring smoother operations. In addition, a 3D visualisation interface now offers real-time insight into the terminal’s occupancy, complete with filter options by vessel, cargo type, or yard location.

Hartmut Wolberg, Managing Director of UNIKAI, emphasized the project’s importance: “With the successful completion of AKIDU, we now have the technologies and IT tools we need to future-proof our terminal processes. The next step is to standardize digital product data from clients, which will allow us to fully utilize these new systems in live operations.”

Norbert Klettner, Managing Director for Ports & Terminals at AKQUINET, praised the collaboration, noting that UNIKAI’s operational input was crucial to developing a digital twin in CHESSCON software and integrating additional cargo types. “We are excited to transition this solution into full production with UNIKAI,” he said.

AKQUINET contributed its expertise and CHESSCON simulation platform, while the Hamburg Informatics Technology Center (HITeC e.V.) developed automated measurement processes for diverse cargo, enabling digital recording of non-standardized project cargo. Together, the partnership has laid the groundwork for a smarter, more efficient, and sustainable approach to break bulk and RoRo handling.

The successful outcome of the AKIDU project highlights Hamburg’s position as a leader in port digitalization. By combining IT innovation with operational expertise, the Port of Hamburg is setting new standards for handling complex cargo in an increasingly competitive global logistics environment.

Source: HHLA — Official Newsroom

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