A new government-backed project at the Port of Tyne in the UK will test connected and automated container movements using a 5G mesh network to support real-time data sharing, secure communications, and system integration.
Led by the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA), the Port-Connected and Automated Logistics (P-CAL) project aims to demonstrate the use of a fully autonomous terminal tractor operating within a live quayside environment.
The nine-month project builds on earlier 5G CAL and V-CAL initiatives and brings together a consortium including the Port of Tyne, Oxa, ANGOKA, Vantec Europe, BP, Nissan, Newcastle University, Womble Bond Dickinson, and Connected Places Catapult.
The system will move containers between the dockside and the container compound, using continuous data exchange with terminal systems and remote operators to coordinate with crane movements and other port infrastructure.
The initiative is funded through the CAM Pathfinder – Enhancements programme, part of the UK Government’s wider £150 million Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) strategy, delivered by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) in partnership with Innovate UK and Zenzic.
A secure mesh network and digital infrastructure will be developed by cybersecurity firm ANGOKA to enable communication between the autonomous vehicle, port systems, and operators. The network is designed to support low-latency, high-frequency data transfer under real-world port conditions.
The P-CAL trial aims to deliver a system that will integrate with terminal operating platforms to share movement data and operational status in real time, with the aim of creating a scalable framework for wider adoption of autonomous logistics across UK ports and industrial zones.
