Automation plays a major role in the advancement of the world economy and commerce, as it does in everyday life. Perhaps anybody reading this might disagree, but I guarantee they also use a mobile telephone and a remote control for the television.
As a global ocean carrier just 10 years ago, we had a floor full of employees whose job it was to answer the questions Where's my cargo? and Where's the ship? Today, after hundreds of millions of dollars in investment, our customer has the information in real time at his fingertips on the computer.
So it must be for terminal operations as well. Automation has had a significant impact in a wide range of industries and has been responsible for the transformation from industrial jobs to service jobs. When it comes to productivity, the constraints placed on automation have greatly reduced the potential for greater waterfront efficiency.
Automation and technology will require a skilled work force. Our industry is way behind in this area because of artificial fears. The ports that do not fully embrace automation will be left waiting for their ship to come in.