A self-driving truck transfers a container at Tianjin Port on Sept 1, 2020. Twenty-five vehicles of the kind are in operation at the port. (ZHAO ZISHUO / XINHUA)

Qu Dongsheng, an engineer at the Tianjin Port Pacific International Container Terminal, is excited about changes that have taken place at the terminal over the past decade.

"In the past, workers needed to remain 46 meters above the ground to perform tasks like loading and offloading. They had to bend over through the whole process. Even with a safety rope, it was an unpleasant experience," Qu explained. "Now they can do all of this in an office and operate remotely."

The intelligent technology enables the port's services to stand atop the world during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Liu Qingshun, vice president,Tianjin Port

In addition, an automated and smart cargo screening system has been utilized in the port for 95 percent of its cargo and containers.

With the full use of intelligent technologies, Tianjin Port has built a world-first automated container facility, with intelligent tallying being realized for all terminals.

"The intelligent technology enables the port's services to stand atop the world during the COVID-19 pandemic period," said Liu Qingshun, vice president of Tianjin Port.

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During the first seven months, it handled 10.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, weighing 251 million metric tons, each up 4 percent year-on-year.

In July, it recorded 1.7 million TEUs and 43.1 million tons, up 9.9 percent and 17.3 percent, respectively.

The port, located in the Binhai New Area, is making great strides to boost synergies with the area. During the first half of this year, the area lured 534 projects from Beijing－which aims to de-cluster its industrial burden－worth 117.1 billion yuan (US$16.9 billion), equal to the whole year of investment from Beijing last year.

"The Binhai New Area and Tianjin Port are making great strides together, benefiting from each other's advantages," said Lian Maojun, Party chief of Binhai. "The area is fostering new industrial engines to boost the deepened merging of the town's industry and the port," he said.

Cai Hui, Party chief of the China Railway Equipment Engineering Group (Tianjin) Co Ltd, said the company, which moved to Binhai from Henan province, can benefit from the smart port as well as the coastal town's ideal location and preferential policies.

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Now it can export more than 10 large pieces of equipment annually, such as Africa's first tunnel boring machine to Algeria last year.

"We benefit from the free trade zone's preferential policies and the port's seamless connection. We export equipment to countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, and the efficient shipment slashes our company's costs significantly," he said.