Patent ID: 8596951

Claim:
A method for operating a port, comprising, in any order: establishing at least one storage block for storing standardized containers, each said storage block including two automated stacking cranes per storage block on common rails and at least two buffer areas; 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; and 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 each said automated vehicle includes a common base which receives a plurality of platforms, each said platform further comprising a coning platform for placement and removal of container cones; and wherein said platform is a coning platform with an auxiliary platform connected to one side which rises to a raised height level with the coning platform and lowers to a lowered height below the raised height for accessing and servicing cones on a container platform.