This paper considers the prospects of digitalization in the warehouse cargo handlingsystem, as well as the
 impact of modern IT technologies on the logistics of a sea container terminal. The technological process of
 container transshipment in the operational areas of the terminal and formation of auxiliary stacks for further
 transfer of cargo between different transport means, their temporary storage and transformation (from containerized
 form to general cargo and back), as well as the implementation of secondary operations (checking,
 weighing, etc.) are the object of research. From an operational point of view, the formation of an auxiliary stack
 is a time-taking technological operation, as it requires the selective search and withdrawal from the general
 stack of a certain number of containers that make up the logistic flow of cargo moved to the relevant operational
 zone. The method of research is automatic programming of the simulated technological process. In this case,
 the simulation object is described by a finite automaton which is then converted into code. The main purpose
 of the automaton is to implement the control function. In the context of this research work, the control actions
 are aimed at the reloader and program the sequence of its actions to find the target containers in the stack. A
 mathematical model of the search and withdrawal of the target containers from the stack in the terminal storage
 area by means of a computerized control system, as well as a transition graph of the finite automaton with
 control rules (codes) are the results of this research. The application of above mathematical facility to modeling
 of technological processes makes it possible to present a unified logic of management of the prestacking process
 in operational areas of the terminal