Port Environment Research Articles

Boron Carbide as High-Energy Radiation Shielding Material for ITER

Boron carbide (B4C) has emerged as a potential material, which can be used for high-energy radiation shielding in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). This is one of the hardest ceramic materials with required properties, such as low density, high hardness, high toughness, high melting point, chemical inertness, outstanding thermal–electrical characteristics, and most importantly having a high cross section for the absorption of neutrons. Recently, ITER-India, Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) initiated prototype activities for the development of hot-pressed B4C blocks/pellets. ITER-India with support from an Indian Industry has demonstrated the manufacturing capability for large-scale, vacuum-hot-pressed blocks with machining feasibility for the final product (shielding block). Development activities have been carried out as per ASTM C750 (Nuclear Grade B4C Powder), ASTM C751 (Nuclear Grade B4C blocks/pellets), and other stringent requirements of ITER. The B4C blocks/pellets have been fabricated in a vacuum at the high-temperature range of 2050 °C–2100 °C and high pressure of ~30 MPa. To qualify this material as per ITER requirements, its chemical composition, mechanical, and physical properties are studied and validated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies were conducted to calculate the grain size in the microstructure. As this material is to be used in an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) environment in ITER ports and systems, the outgassing rate of B4C is also determined. We ascertained outgassing rate <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\le1\,\,\times \,\,10^{-8}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> Pam <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{3}\text{s}^{-1}\text{m}^{-2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> at 100 °C of B4C as per the ITER vacuum handbook (IVH) as well as ITER-derived requirements for ports. The main reason to achieve this outgassing rate is the process of fabrication used as it does not include any sintering aids and additives; hence, it is a unique hot-pressing technique, which is better suited for nuclear applications. This article describes the details of the study related to B4C blocks/pellets development and toward the qualification as per shielding material requirements for ITER.

Formation of MASS Collision Avoidance and Path following Based on Artificial Potential Field in Constrained Environment

It is essential to promote the intelligence and autonomy of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASSs). This study proposed an automatic collision-avoidance method based on an improved Artificial Potential Field (APF) with the formation of MASSs (F-MASSs). Firstly, the navigation environment model was constructed by the S-57 Electronic Navigation Chart (ENC) data in Tianjin Port. The Formation Ship State Parameter (FSSP) definition was proposed for the port environment under multiple constraints that considered the navigation conditions of the MASSs. The formation pattern transformation was settled by changing the formation ship state parameter. Considering the constraints of an ‘unmanned–manned’ encounter situation, the static obstacles, and the design of the channel area improved artificial potential method for the formation. Finally, the simulation experiment was carried out in the sea near Tianjin Port to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm under multiple constraints. The results indicate that the method can satisfy the integrated operation of collision avoidance and path following in a constrained environment, and it can support the application of merchant F-MASS autonomous navigation in the future.

Prioritization of EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety) Risks of Unloading and Loading Operations in Chabahar Port Using Shannon’s Entropy Technique

Background: The increase in port activities, the establishment of numerous contracting companies in the Chabahar port environment in Chabahar, Iran, and the variety of jobs and port equipment have exposed the active labor force to several risks. Objectives: This study attempted to identify and prioritize the environment, health, and safety (EHS) risks of each of these activities in the unloading and loading operations of goods in this port. Methods: This was an applied descriptive-survey study. Eighty-three managers, EHS experts, port and maritime affairs, experts of unloading and loading companies, and transportation companies of Chabahar port were involved in this study. According to the research background, 26 risks were identified and classified by port and marine experts with more than 10 years of experience under three groups, namely environment (7 risks), health (9 risks), and safety (10 risks). The risks were categorized in terms of severity, probability of occurrence, probability of discovery, and amount of financial loss. Shannon’s entropy technique was used to prioritize the risks. Results: In the safety group, the risk of explosion and fire of equipment, with a weighted score of 0.206, was the most important, and the risk of damage to pier equipment, with a weighted score of 0.02, was the least important. In the health group, the risk of working in abnormal air temperature, with a weighted score of 0.211, was the most important, and the risk of ergonomic cases, with a weighted score of 0.031, was the least important. In the environment group, the risk of waste management, with a weighted score of 0.241, was the most important, and changes in terrestrial and aquatic habitats and biodiversity, with a weighted score of 0.037, were identified as the least important risks. Conclusions: Unloading and loading operations in Chabahar port are more exposed to safety risks, and further focus should be placed on the safety dimension than the other two dimensions because, in the event of safety risks, there is a possibility of losing manpower.

Characterization of fouling structure components and their relationships with associated macrofauna in three Northern Tyrrhenian port systems (Mediterranean Sea)

Factors that promote the introduction and establishment of non-indigenous species (NIS) within port environments are not completely understood. In the present work the structure of fouling community was studied in three Northern Tyrrhenian port systems (Western Mediterranean), focusing on the relationships between fouling structure components and the associated macrofauna, considering whole communities and NIS assemblages. For each port system, fouling samples from two harbour types (large port and recreational marina) were collected and, within each large port, we considered two use destinations (commercial and touristic). Results showed that harbour type and use destination shaped the structure of sessile fouling differently, with their relative influence varying among port systems. Highly positive relationships were detected between macrofaunal sessile taxa and associated organisms for both whole communities and NIS assemblages. Possibly due to their complex three-dimensional morphology, erected bryozoans and serpulid tubes showed marked association with the majority of vagile taxa, especially NIS. These results suggest that high levels of spatial complexity of fouling basibionts could promote the invasion success within port environments.

Short-term colonization of fouling communities within the port of Livorno (Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Western Mediterranean): Influence of substrate three-dimensional complexity on non-indigenous species establishment

The influence of substrate morphology on early stages of fouling development was assessed through submerged experimental substrates with different morphological complexity. The experiment was carried out within commercial and touristic harbours of the port of Livorno (Italy), analysing the communities at three steps of colonization (14, 28, 42 days). We assessed the effect of substrate complexity on recruitment of non-indigenous species (NIS), combined with the influence of port use destinations. NIS were recorded in both use destination areas since the first step of colonization. Substrate morphological complexity significantly affected fouling colonization and particularly NIS assemblages. We found that high-complexity substrates are particularly suitable for NIS establishment in comparison with less complex ones. The touristic harbour exhibited a potential for fouling colonization higher than the commercial harbour. These results contributed to the understanding of factors involved in NIS establishment and spread, as well as in their spatial-temporal dynamics within port environments.

A point cloud segmentation and material statistics algorithm for train carriage

The efficiency of train transportation in the port environment directly restricts the production efficiency of the entire port. In order to coordinate the productivity of the entire port and further improve the loading and unloading efficiency of the train automation system, this paper proposes a material segmentation and data statistics algorithm for the problem of material identification in the train compartment. The terrestrial laser scanning system was established under the experimental scenario of CHN ENERGY Tianjin Port. By fusing the laser point cloud data, and then performing pre-processing operations such as box filtering, down-sampling, and radius filtering, the pre-processed point cloud data is projected onto a two-dimensional plane as a two-dimensional image, and the canny operator is used to extract the contour of the carriage on the image. Further fitting to the plane of the point cloud of the carriage wall, and the point cloud of materials in the carriage is segmented. Through the method of slicing the compartment, completing the statistical analysis of the data in the compartment from the whole to the part. The database fields of the main carriage types are established to realize the information interaction between the database and the recognition algorithm. The final experimental results show that the error rate of the carriage length recognition is 5.89%, and the width error rate is 7.25%, which verifies that the algorithm has good recognition accuracy which fully meets engineering needs.

Evaluation of the effective factors of unloading and loading goods in ports and the impact on the environment using the MCDM method.

Today, the impact of transportation on sustainable development is undeniable. Maritime transport, as one of the important pillars of this industry and due to its advantages such as low cost and large volume of freight, plays a key role in the development of foreign trade. This study uses TOPSIS and DEMATLE methods to evaluate the factors affecting the unloading and loading of goods on the port's environment. The results of TOPSIS method on the main criteria showed that the atmospheric factors' criterion had the highest weight and the port criterion (includes activities that occur in the port) had the lowest weight. In the sub-criteria section, the suitable visibility of the crane operator had the highest rank and the sub-criterion of storage capacity and its (storage) area obtained the lowest rank. Also, the results of DEMATEL method on the cause-and-effect relationship of sub-criteria of unloading and loading of goods showed that coastal transport equipment, unloading and loading equipment, and safety required for unloading goods are influenced higher than other sub-criteria and also the impact of safety required for unloading goods, proper visibility of the crane operator, and the ability of unloading equipment is greater than other sub-criteria. The results of cause-and-effect relationship for sub-criteria of the port environment showed that the impact of sewage, sanitary effluents from the port and ships, and hazardous waste is higher than other sub-criteria and also the impact of petroleum hydrocarbons, sediments, and toxic substances is higher than other sub-criteria.

Measurements and modelling of the three-dimensional near-field dispersion of particulate matter emitted from passenger ships in a port environment

The maritime sector poses significant challenges in controlling the emission of harmful pollutants, such as particulate matter, and reducing their impact on coastal areas and the atmospheric environment. Efforts to regulate the sector necessitate new knowledge and methods to characterise the evolution and physicochemical transformation of maritime particle emissions dispersing in port areas. An experimental campaign at the Port of Rafina, Greece, was conducted with this in mind. In this paper, we report on the first multi-characteristic particle measurements, including particle number (PN), lung deposited surface area (LDSA), and black carbon (BC), performed at both land and sea using a novel instrument set-up mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Land-based measurements showed that LDSA averages, which are influenced by particle number and size, increase up to 20 times above background levels as an emission plume progresses downwind, whereas BC concentrations, which are dominated by mass, are ∼12 times higher than the background concentration. Ground and UAV-based particle comparisons showed that PN and LDSA measurements exhibit greater differences than BC relative to the plume's location. Ground-based sensors had ∼50% lower LDSA and PN concentrations, whereas BC was about equal. The experimental observations are further substantiated by coupling a Gaussian plume dispersion model and a new computationally attractive approach, known as the Incompletely Stirred Reactor Network (ISRN) method, to predict the three-dimensional evolution of particle characteristics considering the effects of dilution, segregation, and physicochemical transformations, such as coagulation. Based on simplifying assumptions for the particle size distribution sources within the port area, the ISRN estimates suggest that the discrepancy between various metrics can be partly explained by coagulation, responsible for a non-linear increase in particle size, depending on the local level of dilution and mixing intensity, leading up to a ∼25% decrease in PN and LDSA compared to BC. Combined, measurements and modelling highlight the effect of the sampling location and the importance of monitoring more than one particle metric to characterise particle evolution.

The development of data-driven logistic platforms for barge transportation network under incomplete data

Currently, the capabilities to capture, store and process logistics data, such as generated by the transport and handling of millions of maritime containers to distribute cargo worldwide, are available. A lot of these logistics events are already recorded and stored within some databases to keep track of operations. These data represent considerable value when analysed to diagnose bottlenecks and inefficiencies and guide better decisions in global supply chains. Since, amongst other things, the data is not readily available as information to the decision maker, this potential has not been reaped. In this paper, we focus on the question of how data can be transformed into meaningful information to the decision maker even when data is available to a limited extent. We explore the role of data-driven 4PL IT platforms, where users of the platform provide data that is incomplete and untimely, in producing valuable information for the stakeholders of their logistics ecosystem. We develop a mathematical model to obtain meaningful information from lower-quality data. We apply this in the context of container logistics of river vessels (barges) in a port environment. We introduce three sets of functions that capture movement, inventory, and productivity, to describe the logistics processes at hand and assess the state of a distribution network, often not recorded by the IT systems of operators in the distribution network. A Kalman filter approach is used to match movement and productivity information, to detect the state of the distribution network, and to predict its evolution in support of decision making about the allocation of containers to empty slots on barges.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OF OIL SPILL IN SHENZHEN PORT

PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OF OIL SPILL IN SHENZHEN PORT

Effectiveness of ecomodules in increasing aquatic biodiversity and bioproductivity in a port environment.

In early spring of 2018, so called ecomodules were attached to support piles of jetties within the polyhaline part of the port of Rotterdam. The objective of the ecomodules is to increase bioproductivity and biodiversity of the port basins and waterways, by ‘greening’ nautical infrastructure structures, which would otherwise support few species. An ecomodule consists of a coated steel construction of 1 meter wide and 4 meters high to which elements of structural diversity that facilitate the settlement and growth of organisms can be attached. About a quarter of the ecomodule protrudes above the water level at low tide, the other part is permanently under water. Five different types (I to V) of ecomodules have been tested. Ecomodules with: (I, cups, reference) tidal cups and a subtidal concrete reference slab, (II, ropes) used nylon hawsers with a diameter of 12 cm, (III, drainage pipes) drainage pipes sheathed with polypropylene with a diameter of 12,5 cm, (IV, fender hulas) bundles of thin nylon threads (untangled used hawsers), and (V roots) strands with 3 mm thick nylon strings with a length of 40 cm each. Monitoring of the ecomodules took place in the summers of 2018 and 2019.The biofouling on all ecomodules was zonate both inter- and subtidal. Different types of seaweed were found of which Ulva spec. occurred on all ecomodules while the large seaweed Fucus vesiculosus (Bladder wrack) only occurred on type II and IV. Amongst the macrofauna some groups/species clearly (co-)dominated the different types of ecomodules: barnacles and Crassostrea gigas (Pacific oysters) on type I, ascidians on type I, II, III and IV, hydrozoans on type II, III and V, bryozoans on type IV, while with a coverage of nearly 100% Mytilus edulis (Blue mussel) dominated type V.The ecomodules with elements of structural diversity vs the concrete reference plate scored higher on both biodiversity and bioproductivity. The total number of macrofaunal species found on the ecomodules ranged from 23 to 39 in order from lowest to highest number on respectively type, I (concrete reference plate), IV, V, II, III. The wet biomass on the ecomodules ranged from 5225 gr.m-2 to 80096 gr.m-2 in order from lowest to highest weight on respectively type, I (concrete reference plate), IV, III, II, V.We conclude that ecomodules can be an effective means to increase biodiversity and biomass in an aquatic environment consisting to a large extent of artificial structures, such as a port. An ideal ecomodule was designed based on the findings of the experiment and will be applied to mooring posts in a new project.

Ambient Size-Segregated Particulate Matter Characterization from a Port in Upstate New York

Air pollution impacts human health and the environment, especially in urban cities with substantial industrial activities and vehicular traffic emissions. Despite increasingly strict regulations put in place by regulatory agencies, air pollution is still a significant environmental problem in cities across the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental pollution from stationary and mobile sources using real-time monitoring and sampling techniques to characterize size-segregated particulate matter (PM), black carbon (BC), and ozone (O3) at the Port of Albany, NY. Air pollution monitoring was carried out for 3 consecutive weeks under a 24-hour cycle in 2018 at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) site within the Port. Sampling was done with an AEROCET 531, optical particle sizer (OPS), ozone monitor, and MicroAeth AE51. Higher mass and number concentrations of size-segregated particles were observed during the daytime. PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations ranged from 1 to 271 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) and 1 to 344 µg/m3, respectively. While these values do not exceed the level of the USEPA 24-hour standards, frequent sharp peaks were observed at higher concentrations. Size-segregated PM at sizes 0.3 µm and 0.374 µm recorded maximum concentrations of 101,631 particle number per cubic centimeter (#/cm3) and 43,432 #/cm3, respectively. Wide variations were observed in the particle number concentrations for 0.3 µm, 0.374 µm, and 0.465 µm sizes, which ranged from 1521 to 101,631 #/cm3; 656 to 43,432 #/cm3; and 311 to 29,271 #/cm3, respectively. BC concentration increased during morning and evening rush hours with the maximum concentration of 11,971 ng/m3 recorded at 8:00 AM. This suggests that mobile sources are the primary contributor to anthropogenic sources of BC within the Port. Episodic elevations in the concentrations of size-segregated PM and BC confirmed the contribution of industrial and vehicular activities around the Port of Albany. This study underscores the importance of measuring particles on a size-segregated basis in order to more fully understand the contributions of the multiple sources present within and surrounding a port environment.

Smart and Sustainable Port Performance in Thailand: A Conceptual Model

Global seaports are interested in the concept of smart and sustainable ports that many have an impact on global trade and economics. This research aims to find the main factors and indicators of smart and sustainable port management, and confirm the factors of smart and sustainable port management using a case study of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in Thailand. Mix method approach, qualitative research is used in the data collection with a total of three databases in 2015-2021. Content analysis with triangulation data is utilized to analyze these data finding the factors and indicators of smart and sustainable port management. Quantitative research is used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for confirming the factors and indicators and developing a conceptual model of smart and sustainable port performance. As the result, a conceptual model with three main factors is shown including the smart port environment, the smart port society, and the smart port economy. These main factors and indicators are represented as three factors and seventeen indicators of confirming explanation. This conceptual model for the introduction of port development explains smart and sustainable port performance and the key indicators to achieve port practice for improving international standards of smart and sustainable ports.

Management status and policy direction of submerged marine debris for improvement of port environment in Korea

Abstract As the issue of marine waste is emerging around the world, it is urgent to come up with measures to manage marine waste. This study examined the status of the collection project of submerged marine debris (SMD) undertaken to improve the environment of major ports by the central and local governments of Korea. Approximately, 7,174 and 2,817 tons of SMD have been collected at major trade ports and coastal ports, respectively, over the last 7 years (2014–2020). The projects to collect SMD have achieved effectiveness, reducing marine accidents in the port. For example, entanglement accidents caused by floating debris also decreased by 11% in 2018 compared to the previous year. The results of the sediment environment investigation before and after the collection of SMD also showed that the species of benthos and their population density increased, and the concentration of acid volatile sulfides (AVSs) decreased. To reduce marine accidents in ports and improve the benthic environment, it will be necessary to provide policy support, such as investigating the distribution status of SMD regularly, improving the effectiveness of the collection method, identifying the way to recycle collected debris, maintaining the public–private cooperative system, and establishing a specialized agency for the systematic management of marine debris.

Analyzing human factor involvement in sustainable hazardous cargo port operations

The catastrophic consequences of the recent hazardous cargo port accidents have raised serious concerns for the port safety and maritime transportation officials. Human factor is one of the prominent instigation factors in maritime accidents. However, investigating the role of the human factor in hazardous cargo accidents in a port environment is still in its infancy. This study investigates the multifaceted human factor involvement in port hazardous cargo accidents. The methodology consists of using expert judgment, literature review, and maximum likelihood estimation for the selection of variables, developing their causal relationship and its quantification, while Bayesian network (BN) for the inference based on past accident reports from 1960 to 2018. The results indicate that under normal situations, hazardous cargo port operations are susceptible to an accident probability of 21.47%, where safety issues, bad supervision, intellectual issues, and violations remain the most protuberant instigators. Setting evidence at the hazardous cargo accident, the probability of “errors and violations” is increased by 5.06%, revealed as the highest disruptor. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the most critical accident causation factors. This study imparts practical insights for evading and mitigating risks associated with hazardous cargo handling in a port environment, ensuring sustainable and safer port operability.

Reducing pollutant emissions from vessel maneuvering in port areas

We propose an activity-based model to calculate ships’ exhaust emissions while maneuvering in port. The exhaust emissions from the seven international commercial ports in Taiwan (namely Kaohsiung, Keelung, Taichung, Taipei, Hualien, Anping, and Suao) were calculated using actual data. Then, the regional ship exhaust emissions were estimated based on the number and size of ships and the type of fuel they used. Our method of predicting and evaluating the effectiveness of green port policies is shown to be intuitive and precise. Small vessels, which are the most common vessel type to enter and leave Taiwan ports, were shown to generate most of the emissions, but unit emissions from large vessels were the highest among three types of vessels (i.e., small, medium, and large). Moreover, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions corresponded to sailing speed. Taiwan International Ports Co., Ltd (TIPC) has slightly reduced carbon dioxide equivalent and sulfur oxide emissions by implementing a green port policy, consisting of multiple ways of building a sustainable port environment (such as vessel speed reduction and use of low-sulfur oil). However, nitrogen oxide emissions have not decreased significantly. Our findings indicate that lower speeds and onshore power supply can reduce local air pollution, and assist transportation authorities, who should consistently monitor GHG emissions in port, to proactively respond to the International Maritime Organization’s regulations for ensuring a sustainable future.

Development of a Tool for Environmental Performance Evaluation in Ports: A Case Study based on the Delphi Technique in Port Environment

Ports as one the most important parts of the maritime transport system play a paramount role in world trade. The set of designed and implemented processes in ports can significantly impact the surrounding environment. Therefore, the environmental consequences associated with a variety of activities and processes in ports can threaten sustainable global development. Thus, this study was designed and conducted with the aim of developing a tool for environmental performance evaluation in ports. Twenty-five experts in the field of environment and marine sciences participated in the present study. The study was conducted in three rounds based on the Delphi technique in the years 2019-2020. The index of coefficient variation (CV) and acceptance criteria for each of the parameters in this study were considered &lt;20% and 4≤, respectively. The validity of this tool was evaluated using the content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR). In addition, its reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. CV index in the third round of this Delphi was 0.08. Therefore, the green ports performance evaluation questionnaire was developed with six factors and 32 parameters after three Delphi rounds. These six factors of environmental performance included reactive performance (5 parameters), proactive performance (5 parameters), sustainability (5 parameters), socio-cultural (6 parameters), economic (5 parameters), and governance (6 parameters). The results of the validity evaluation showed that the CVR and CVI of this developed questionnaire were 0.875 and 0.906, respectively. In addition, based on Cronbach's alpha coefficient, the reliability of this tool was estimated to be α=0.92. The findings indicated that the developed tool for evaluating the environmental performance in ports had good validity and reliability. Therefore, this tool can be used as an acceptable estimator of the ports’ environmental performance in the maritime transport system.

Business Process Re-engineering in Public Administration: The case study of Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority

Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) is a technique based on a radical redesign of the structure of an organization to improve its efficiency by optimizing processes and reducing costs. It has been proven effective over a plethora of private applications however, not many studies based on the public sector have been reported even though it is known to be inefficient. This is mainly due to an overall smaller market exposure of public administrations compared to private companies. However, nowadays, in the age of digitalization, the growing global competition is requiring PA to improve the efficiency of their processes. This paper offers a real case-study of an application of BPR in a PA namely the Genoa Port in Italy, one of the biggest ports in Europe. The following analysis has been carried out through an AS IS / TO BE approach and the outcome of the re-engineering process has been validated through Discrete Event Simulation. The results show how BPR can improve the efficiency of PAs and, particularly, how the port environment can drastically turn into an efficient and optimized system.

Connotation, Composition, and Characteristics of Location Value of Free Trade Port—An Empirical Study of Ningbo Zhoushan Port

The concept of “location value of free trade port” is put forward for analysis and research, which is defined as the economic capacity and value of the port jointly determined by the natural resources, economic level, and social and cultural environment of the free trade port, which has a sustainable development value created based on the advantages of the port itself and combined with factors such as culture, policy, science, and technology. The analysis shows that economic and economic support, political system, industrial development, cultural heritage, innovation, and technological level are the basic components of location value, and the location value of free trade port is characterized by openness, innovation, sustainability, boundary, and dependence. This paper finally summarizes the mining direction of the location value of the free trade port: such as accelerating the transformation and upgrading of the service industry, paying attention to building sustainable development, which provides a new perspective for the free trade port to enhance its location value.

Study on Distributed Consistent Cooperative Control of Multi-ART in Automated Container Terminals

In order to address the congestion problem of vehicles in quay of automated container terminal with parallel layout and side-loading operations, the study regards the terminal operation system as a multi-agent system (MAS), and proposes a dynamic cooperative speed control schema of multi-ART(Artificial Intelligence Robot of Transportation, ) for the purpose of smart and distributed traffic control of container terminals. Via the real-time data interchange and message passing with ART group, the individual ART implements the collaborative speed regulation with the combination of the dynamic speed regulation strategy, so as to adjust the sequence of ARTs arriving at the quay which can decrease the waiting time of ARTs at the quay. Considering the consistency problem of individual and group agent among the dynamic speed regulation of ARTs, a novel distributed consensus protocol is established to assure that the individual status of ART will tend to converge basically during the collaborative speed regulation process, and the convergence of system can be guaranteed. Based on the case of automated container terminal of Tianjin Port, the paper establishes a multi-agent based simulation model, and simulates the decision-making process, and validates the effectiveness of mentioned model and strategy. The results demonstrate that the strategy can decrease the waiting time of ARTs under uncertainty environment of port and improve the operation efficiency of system.