During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the port industry entered a critical stage of transformation towards intelligence, green development, and internationalization. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Ningbo Port"), driven by technological innovation, has deeply integrated RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology into the entire port operation chain, making it a key force driving the company's leapfrog development and delivering an impressive five-year performance.
RFID Technology Solidifies Core Support for Smart Infrastructure
As a "steel mega-port" in the global shipping landscape, Ningbo Port's intelligent transformation relies heavily on core technologies. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the company accelerated the construction of its "2+1" smart terminals, with the RFID electronic seal project becoming a significant breakthrough in smart infrastructure. This technology automatically identifies target objects and collects data through radio frequency signals, completing information verification without manual intervention, significantly improving the automation and accuracy of port operations.
Currently, the RFID electronic seal project has been rapidly implemented at terminals on both the north and south wings of Ningbo Port and along the Yangtze River, with an identification accuracy rate consistently above 99%. With the full launch of the intelligent cargo handling system and the in-depth application of intelligent container receiving, scheduling, and loading modules in the n-TOS production system, RFID technology has built a full-process information exchange network of "cargo-equipment-system," providing solid technical support for benchmark projects such as the multi-line operation of a multi-million-ton automated container terminal and the world's first open-style multi-line automated container terminal. Thanks to these technological innovations, the automation rate of large equipment at Ningbo Port exceeded 30% in 2024, achieving the "14th Five-Year Plan" target ahead of schedule.
Technology Empowers Port and Shipping Services to Improve Quality and Efficiency
Leveraging the advantages of efficient information flow brought by RFID technology, Ningbo Port has continuously improved its multimodal transport logistics system, significantly boosting its port and shipping service capabilities. In key scenarios such as sea-rail intermodal transport, river-sea intermodal transport, and sea-river intermodal transport, RFID electronic seals enable full traceability of goods from the terminal to the yard, and from inland dry ports to international hubs, effectively reducing cargo damage risks and improving logistics turnover efficiency.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Ningbo Port opened 109 sea-rail intermodal transport routes and established 38 inland dry ports. In 2024, the volume of sea-rail intermodal transport reached 1.818 million TEUs, an increase of 80.9% compared with the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. The deep integration of RFID technology with the multimodal transport system has not only made cargo transportation more efficient and safer, but also laid a solid foundation for Ningbo Port to build a "sixth port area" and become a national demonstration model for inland ports, further strengthening its position as a key strategic hub for the domestic and international dual circulation.
In its "going global" strategy, RFID technology has become a crucial driver for Ningbo Port's expansion of its global service footprint. Whether it's the logistics service platform in Southeast Asia, the Dubai cloud warehouse project in the Middle East, or the recent significant progress in Sino-Russian multimodal transport cooperation and cross-border shipping routes, RFID electronic seals provide standardized information management solutions for cross-border cargo transportation, breaking down information barriers between different regions and modes of transport.
Simultaneously, the operational efficiency improvements and cost optimizations brought about by RFID technology have also supported Ningbo Port's innovative capital operations. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the company successfully completed major projects such as the "double 10 billion" private placement by China Merchants Port and the spin-off listing of Ningbo Ocean Shipping, injecting ample capital vitality into its international development. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan, Ningbo Port will continue to deepen the application of new technologies such as RFID, promoting changes in development quality, efficiency, and driving forces, and steadily moving towards the goal of "first-class facilities, first-class technology, first-class management, and first-class service."
The deep application of RFID technology is a vivid microcosm of Ningbo Port's high-quality development driven by technological innovation during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. From smart terminals to multimodal transport, from domestic hubs to global networks, this technology is continuously empowering ports, helping Ningbo Port maintain its leading edge in global shipping competition and write a more brilliant chapter of development.
