After ticking off the first phase of their joint remote/automated trucking project in the container terminal HHLA TK Estonia, the two agreed to proceed.

The yard truck that FERNRIDE equipped with sensors and cameras already transported containers between the quayside in the Muuga Harbour and the yard via remote control.

With the start of the second phase, autonomous driving will be integrated into operational processes. For this purpose, an additional automated yard truck will be deployed at the terminal for container transport. The goal is to achieve a degree of autonomy of at least 80-90%.

"Thanks to the joint project with FERNRIDE, we have been able to test the system directly in the operational business of HHLA TK Estonia. The implementation has proven itself in daily terminal operations, so that proof of concept could be achieved at an early stage. We will now continue our excellent collaboration with FERNRIDE and will work together to see how autonomous driving might work in the future. Our goal is to create work processes at our international terminals that are future-oriented and sustainable," said Philip Sweens, Managing Director of HHLA International.

Martin Isik, FERNRIDE's CCO, added, "We are looking forward to the next phase of productive and successful collaboration with HHLA. Our mutual trust and the desire to positively transform the sector make us perfect strategic partners in the implementation of our platform for autonomous electric trucking in port areas. Our partners are impressed by the platform's advantages, including the increased efficiency and safety for our employees, the reliability of our operations and the easy scalability of the solution. HHLA shares our values and our ambitions of scaling this technology internationally, and the TK Estonia terminal offers ideal conditions to lay the foundation for this."

Meanwhile, another of HHLA's companies, HHLA Next, has, for the second time, invested in FERNRIDE (Series A financing). Simone Lode, Managing Director of HHLA Next, commented, "The successful project in Tallinn once again underlined FERNRIDE's professionalism as well as the immediate operability of the system. This strengthened our decision to expand our investment. With FERNRIDE, we are investing in a company that provides 'human-assisted autonomy'. This is already a functioning, reliable solution that is paving the way towards autonomous driving."

Photo: HHLA/FERNRIDE