Towards a future of living models

As another year draws to a close, the container terminal industry can look back on a period shaped by shifting trade patterns, increased regulatory expectations, sustainability requirements and expanding developments in the area of automation. Vessel sizes continue to grow, automation becomes more widespread and the demand for highly reliable, predictable performance is now embedded in every major project. In this environment, careful preparation, sound decision making and a clear understanding of operational behaviour are more important than ever.

Against this backdrop, simulation and emulation have moved from specialist tools to essential components of modern terminal planning and implementation. This year has again shown that projects in which these tools are used consistently, from early design to go-live, are better equipped to manage risks, align expectations and deliver stable performance.

Automation beyond separation: the rising need for testing in mixed traffic environments

In 2025, we have seen substantial interest in vehicles which can operate in a mixed traffic environment. Where automation has been focussed for 30 years on complete separation between automated traffic and other traffic, the technology is becoming available to allow mixing. This does not come without additional “intelligence” in the form of fusion sensor kits, processing software, and even artificial intelligence to recognize situations and take the right course of action.

What it also means is that there is a lot of new software being developed which needs to work in integration with the existing software landscape, and preferably without causing a lot of standstill. It’s the robustness that asks for rigorous and rich testing, aiming at laboratory based testing representing a large degree of potential operational circumstances.

In the simulation, the combination of TOS, ECS, FMS and automated vehicles operates smoothly, as this is the “happy day” scenario. However, in live operations, a huge range of situations (generally addressed as exceptions, despite the normality of their occurrence) can take place, causing the complex landscape of controlling software to fail.

Emulation based testing allows testing these individual softwares in isolation – useful to identify problems within these applications – as well as in conjunction with each other – useful to identify integration issues. As these applications often come from different suppliers, conflicts easily occur not bringing the project any further. The integration lab, allowing individual and integrated tests supports finding root causes, and verifying the fixes provided.

This provides an interesting outlook towards 2026: emerging automation technology, which might – someday – make it to the regular morning commute, with coffee and a newspaper, instead of annoyed driving in rush hour traffic. In any case: testing is crucial on the road to success.

Growing maturity in testing and risk control

Throughout 2025, structured testing has remained a cornerstone of successful automation projects. Terminals that begin with simple operational flows and expand gradually continue to achieve the best results, as early testing of a single flow, such as a 40-foot discharge cycle, often uncovers inconsistencies before they escalate. From there, teams can move to more complex combinations that involve multiple systems, including TOS, scheduler, ECS and FMS.

This approach mirrors the structure of the systems themselves. Individual components can be tested in isolation through emulation while still benefiting from the surrounding simulated environment. Once validated, these components can be combined to test the full operation. Although complexity then increases, the insights gained regarding vessel productivity, waiting times, equipment interactions and planning behaviour are invaluable. The result is a more confident and stable path to go-live.

At the same time, several projects have highlighted familiar challenges. Poor data quality, manual steps embedded in operational processes and an incomplete understanding of emulation logic can all undermine the quality of test outcomes. Emulation is a powerful practice, but its effectiveness depends on expert users who combine operational experience with technical understanding. The tool is only as effective as the people who configure and interpret it.

Towards a future of living models

Although 2025 showed clear progress in how simulation and emulation are applied, the concept of a single model that serves every stage of the terminal lifecycle is still emerging. Several terminals have taken first steps towards this vision, yet there remains significant opportunity for the industry to adopt these practices more widely and more consistently.

• Extend the role of models beyond go-live: Most simulation and emulation models are still created with a strong focus on the project phase. Looking ahead, they could serve as long-term environments for performance evaluation, the assessment of new layouts or equipment strategies, operator and engineer training and the safe testing of software updates. Maintaining and expanding these models would allow terminals to build continuity and strengthen operational readiness throughout their lifecycle.
• Use emulation as a shared workspace for collaboration: There is growing interest in using emulation as a neutral environment in which terminal operators, vendors and engineers can work together. This approach helps to reveal differences in interpretation early and supports clearer communication. Wider adoption of this collaborative use of emulation would help projects reduce uncertainty and achieve better alignment.
• Develop common standards and deepen expertise: As more terminals explore simulation and emulation, the need for robust practices and skilled specialists becomes more apparent. Establishing clearer industry standards and continuing to develop expertise will strengthen the quality and reliability of future automation projects.

Ready for a new year of informed decisions

Simulation and emulation will not predict what lies ahead, but they offer a disciplined way to prepare for it. By exposing risks, validating processes and testing software in a controlled environment, they help terminals navigate complexity with greater confidence.

On behalf of the Portwise team, we wish you a joyful festive season and a successful 2026 filled with well-informed choices, smooth implementations and steady performance throughout the year.

Want to stay ahead of developments in terminal automation and simulation in 2026?

Follow Portwise on LinkedIn for the latest insights.