No strings attached

In January 2025, Trelleborg’s marine and infrastructure operation secured a contract to deploy 13 units of its advanced AutoMoor technology at Qingdao Port—the largest port in northern China. The project marked the first time a vacuum-based automated mooring system has been introduced at a port in China.

Qingdao Port’s New Qianwan Container Terminal is among the most advanced container terminals worldwide. It has reached a major milestone as China’s first terminal to achieve end-to-end unmanned container operations, covering everything from navigation and berthing to mooring and cargo handling.

To support this ultra-fast operation, the terminal’s cranes average 36 moves per hour, with peak performance reaching more than 62 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) per hour.

Qingdao Port China 1 — Qingdao Port is the world’s fifth-busiest container port, according to the World Shipping Council (2024, measured in million TEUs).

In an environment where every second counts, berth stability becomes the key to automation efficiency. Even tiny displacements caused by wind, waves, or swells can affect hoisting precision, continuity of operations, and safety.

"This is our first container terminal project launched globally. Our core objective is to eliminate as much uncertainty as possible, not only by automating the entire terminal process in the mooring stage, but also by establishing a stable and predictable operational foundation for the entire terminal,” says Jackie Huang, Managing Director at Trelleborg’s marine and infrastructure operation in China.

”By extending the technology to the berth level, Qingdao Port isn’t just addressing a single bottleneck. It’s building a stable, predictable foundation for the entire terminal operation.”

Jackie Huang, Managing Director at Trelleborg’s marine and infrastructure operation in China.

A pivotal step for global port automation

Traditional mooring and berthing typically depend on ropes, manual rope-throwing, and tugboats—processes strongly affected by wind, waves, currents, and the elastic behavior of mooring lines.

With vacuum-based automated mooring, the task of securing and stabilizing a vessel is converted into a controllable adhesion system supported by digitalized control.

“By extending the technology to the berth level, Qingdao Port isn’t just addressing a single bottleneck. It’s building a stable, predictable foundation for the entire terminal operation. This is a pivotal step for global port automation,” Huang adds.

AutoMoor solution at China’s Qingdao Port — Vacuum-based automated mooring secures and stabilizes vessels using digitally controlled suction technology.

All units made in China

The official launch date for the Qingdao project took place on January 1, 2026. All AutoMoorsuctionunits were manufactured at, and delivered from, Trelleborg’s facility in Qingdao.

“We could deliver all units within a very short timeline,” says Edward Geng, Sales Manager for docking and mooring at Trelleborg in Qingdao. “So far, our suction units are working very stably, and the client is extremely happy with the outcome.”

Geng noted that the customer was surprised by the results: vessels were significantly more stable than before. The system has also helped improve container loading and unloading efficiency—an improvement the client had not expected to see so quickly.

The improvements are really impressive.

“During implementation, we worked with Qingdao Port on system validation to ensure it adapts to different vessel types while meeting safety requirements,” says Geng.

“Now, ships are secured safely without ropes. This eliminates snap-back risks and reduces mooring time from 20–30 minutes to approximately 30 seconds, significantly increasing berth turnover efficiency," Geng adds.

Despite the benefits, integrating AutoMoor into Qingdao’s high-tech terminal required careful planning.

“This terminal is very busy, and we needed to complete the civil work and installation within a limited timeframe to avoid disrupting day-to-day operations,” Geng explains. “We also needed customized design to ensure the AutoMoor units fit the site requirements and overall infrastructure.”

“So far, our suction units are working very stably, and the client is extremely happy with the outcome.”

Edward Geng, Sales Manager for docking and mooring at Trelleborg in Qingdao.

Why automated mooring matters in ESG and risk reduction

Conventional mooring has long been recognized as one of the most dangerous phases of vessel operations.

“Data from the UK P&I Club shows that over a 20-year period, 53% of mooring incidents involved parted ropes,” Geng says. “About 42% were caused by ropes slipping off drum ends, and 5% resulted from equipment failure. These incidents can lead to severe injuries, fatalities, and some of the most expensive insurance claims in the maritime sector. In an era of heightened ESG [environmental, social, and governance] scrutiny, these inefficiencies and risks are simply not acceptable.”

Beyond safety, manual mooring can slow vessel turnarounds—contributing to congestion and higher emissions when ports become bottlenecked. Research by maritime consultancies UCL and UMAS estimates that optimizing port arrivals and reducing waiting times could cut voyage emissions by up to 25% for certain vessel types.

While safety is a major driver, Qingdao Port also expects operational and commercial gains, including shorter mooring times and higher productivity—which are precisely the project goals.

Huang stated, "For our customers, behind the efficiency improvements lies the even more important value of green and energy conservation. By introducing AutoMoor, ports can reduce waiting times, optimize operational processes, thereby improving overall operational efficiency and driving the port towards a greener and lower-carbon direction."

Shanghai leading the port race

Six of the world’s busiest container terminals are located in China. These are Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Guangzhou and Tianjin.

Here is the list, according to the World Shipping Council (2024, million TEU):

Shanghai, China - 51.51
Singapore, Singapore - 41.12
Ningbo-Zhoushan, China - 39.30
Shenzen, China - 33.40
Qingdao, China - 30.87
Guangzhou Harbour, China - 26.07
Busan, South Korea - 24.40
Tianjin, China - 23.29
Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - 15.54
Port Klang, Malaysia - 14.54

Excellent reference case

Berthing and mooring are complex, involving dynamic ship-to-shore interaction and challenging operating conditions. For that reason, these stages have historically relied on manual intervention and have remained among the least automated links in terminal operations.

The successful deployment of AutoMoor at Qingdao Port’s container terminal offers a strong practical example of how to address these challenges. More than a technology install, the project demonstrates engineering validation focused on efficiency, safety, and system stability.

“Yes, this is indeed an excellent reference case for us,” Huang says. “Several leading port operators have already been in touch and expressed keen interest in AutoMoor.”

Writer: Jan Hökerberg
Photos: Trelleborg

This is AutoMoor

Automated mooring should not be viewed as a standalone equipment upgrade. Instead, it should be treated as critical infrastructure within smart port strategies.

Its value is in enabling automated terminals to achieve stable, predictable berthing cycles, reducing operational safety risks, and minimizing unnecessary waiting time and energy consumption.

Trelleborg’s innovation in automated mooring systems optimizes berth utilization and delivers superior efficiencies in port operations. It has many advantages:

Rope-free vacuum mooring solution.
Eliminates snap-back risks, improving safety.
Improves vessel stability at berth.
Quick mooring and release operations increase port throughput and revenue.
Contributes to sustainable operations.

Shipyard workers observe large ship under construction. Wear safety vests hard hats. Scene takes place at dockyard with heavy machinery in background. Workers focus on big vessel. Industrial

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Article published November 4, 2026