TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s first automated container terminal and Evergreen Marine’s new base of operations entered its first day of operation on Friday (Nov. 15).

The NT$32.8 billion (US$1.009 billion) “Terminal 7” was opened for business by Transport Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱), Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), and representatives of the Taiwan International Ports Corporation and Evergreen Marine, per CNA.

Chen said the new terminal positions the Port of Kaohsiung as a leader in container handling for the Asia-Pacific region, as well as providing a new home port for Evergreen Marine. He said it shows the port is steadily improving its smart container handling capabilities.

Chen said Evergreen Marine is “the light of Kaohsiung” and represents Taiwan’s national power. When conducting inter-city diplomacy, “As long as I use the name Evergreen, I will be successful,” he said.

Taiwan International Ports Corporation Chair Li Hsien-i (李賢義) said Terminal 7 was built with Taiwan’s most advanced equipment. He said he believes this will boost Kaohsiung Port’s international rankings and increase efficiency.

According to Evergreen Marine, Terminal 7 has five 18-meter berths with a quay length of over 2.4 kilometers. It said the terminal has 24 gantry cranes, 19 of which can be controlled remotely. 

The terminal also has 60 automated rail-mounted cranes that can operate without workers, and all of the terminal’s technology works with AI software to improve efficiency, the company said.

When operating at full capacity the terminal is designed for four container ships carrying 24,000 20-foot containers each and two medium-sized “feeder” container ships to berth at the same time, it said.

Evergreen Marine said the terminal is expected to handle 6.5 million 20-foot containers annually in the future.