Что такое контейнерный причал?

A container berth is a special place in a port where container ships tie up, load containers, and unload them. It is one of the most important parts of modern port operations. Without container berths, global trade would slow down, and ships would wait much longer at sea. In this article, we explain what a container berth is, how it works, and why it matters to the world’s supply chain.

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1. What Exactly Is a Container Berth?

A container berth is a section of a quay designed for handling container ships. Ships pull up to this area so cranes and workers can move containers between the ship and the port’s yard.

It is different from other types of berths:

• Bulk berths handle coal, sand, grain, and similar loose cargo.
• Oil berths handle crude oil and fuel.
• Ro-Ro berths handle vehicles.

A container berth is built for fast, safe, and efficient container handling. It usually works with TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) as the standard measurement for container volume.

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2. Main Parts of a Container Berth

A well-designed berth includes several key parts:

Quay Structure

This is the edge of the port where the ship sits. It includes fenders, bollards, and strong concrete or steel walls.

Глубина воды

The berth must be deep enough for the ship’s draft. Larger ships need deeper water, often more than 15 meters.

Ship-to-Shore Cranes (STS Cranes)

These large cranes lift containers on and off the ship. They are the most important machines in a container berth.

Container Yard

After unloading, containers go to the yard. It’s where containers wait before trucks or trains pick them up.

Internal Roads and Rail

Trucks, trailers, and sometimes rail tracks help move containers quickly.

Support Facilities

Lighting, safety systems, power supply, offices, and the Terminal Operating System (TOS) support smooth operations.

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3. How a Container Berth Is Designed

Choosing the right design helps a port handle ships safely and efficiently. Designers consider:

Berth Length

It must match the size of the ships. Longer ships need more berth length. Some ports plan for two ships at the same time.

Water Depth and Tides

Planners check tides, waves, and seabed conditions to ensure safe docking.

Crane Capacity

Ports decide how many cranes they need. More cranes mean faster work, but also higher cost.

Yard Space

A busy port needs a large yard. The size depends on throughput and storage time.

Internal Transport

Roads and rail connections must be wide and smooth to avoid traffic jams inside the port.

Energy and Environment

Many new berths include shore power to reduce ship emissions while docked.

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4. How a Container Berth Works Each Day

The daily process is simple but highly coordinated.

1. Ship Arrival

A pilot guides the ship into the berth. Tugboats help if needed.

2. Mooring

The ship ties up using ropes on bollards, and fenders protect the hull.

3. Loading and Unloading

STS cranes move containers between the ship and trucks or yard equipment.

4. Yard Handling

RTGs, RMGs, or reach stackers organize containers in stacks.

5. Departure

Once loading is finished and the ship is balanced, it leaves the port and continues its route.

Berth planners also use “berth windows” so ships know exactly when they can arrive and start operations.

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5. Key Performance Indicators

A container berth’s efficiency depends on several KPIs:

• Berth Throughput (TEU/year): How many containers pass through.
• Crane Moves per Hour (MPH): How fast cranes work.
• Berth Occupancy: How often the berth is busy.
• Waiting Time: How long ships wait before docking.
• Dwell Time: How long containers stay in the yard.

Ports try to improve these KPIs to reduce delays and increase revenue.

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6. Common Challenges at Container Berths

Even the best ports face problems:

Mega Ships

Modern ships carry more than 20,000 TEU. They need deeper water, longer berths, and more cranes.

Congestion

If too many containers arrive at once, yards fill up and trucks get delayed.

Equipment Breakdowns

Cranes, trucks, and yard machines need constant maintenance.

Environmental Pressure

Ports must manage noise, fuel emissions, and waste.

Safety Risks

Heavy equipment, high stacks, and moving trucks require strong safety rules and training.

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7. Future Trends and Innovation

Technology is changing container berths quickly.

Automation

Automated cranes, driverless yard trucks, and gate automation are becoming common.

Smart Planning

AI helps ports plan berth windows, predict yard congestion, and manage resources.

Green Port Technology

Shore power, electric trucks, and cleaner fuels reduce emissions.

Better Connectivity

More ports build rail terminals to support fast inland transport.

These trends make container berths faster, cleaner, and more reliable.

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8. Заключение

Container berths are essential to global trade. They let ships load and unload containers quickly and safely. A well-designed berth improves port efficiency, reduces delays, and supports the entire supply chain. As ships become larger and trade grows, ports must keep improving their berths with better planning, new technology, and smarter operations.

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ЧАСТО ЗАДАВАЕМЫЕ ВОПРОСЫ

1. What is the purpose of a container berth?

It gives container ships a safe place to tie up, load, and unload containers.

2. How deep should a container berth be?

It depends on the ship. Large ships often need 14–16 meters of water or more.

3. How many containers can a berth handle in a day?

This depends on crane speed, number of cranes, and yard capacity.

4. What causes berth congestion?

Big ships, slow yard movement, equipment issues, and lack of rail or truck capacity.

5. Why is shore power important?

It helps reduce emissions when ships plug into the port’s electricity instead of using their engines.