Patent ID: 8529187
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: B65G,B66C,G05D

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a port, comprising, in any order: establishing at least one storage block for storing standardized containers; establishing a landside loading area with a landside crane for transferring containers onto and off of land transportation vehicles; establishing a waterside loading area with a waterside crane for transferring containers into and out of a waterborne vessel; moving containers between landside transportation and automated vehicles using said landside crane, wherein the landside crane is adapted to transfer containers onto and off of the automated vehicles; transporting containers between the landside crane and the storage block using said automated vehicles; moving containers between the automated vehicles and the storage block using said automated stacking cranes; transporting containers between the storage block and the waterside crane using said automated vehicles; moving containers between the automated vehicles and waterborne vessels using said waterside crane, wherein the waterside crane is adapted to transfer containers onto and off of the automated vehicles; controlling the automated equipment via an equipment control system; controlling movement of the automated vehicles via the equipment control system; and managing the port via a terminal operating system; wherein the automated vehicles include a common base which receives a plurality of platforms; wherein the platforms are designed for transport of containers by the automated vehicles, which are configured to lift the platforms from below; wherein the platforms are configured to carry a single 40′ ISO container, a single 20′ ISO container, two 20′ ISO containers end-to-end, or a single 45′ intermodal container; wherein the platforms are configured with flared side guides adapted to nest multiple instances of the platforms together in a stack for storage or for transport; and wherein the flared side guides are configured both to align and secure containers of various lengths to the platforms as well as to align and secure stacked platforms.