Taicang Port. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

China has included Taicang Port in its smart water transport port construction program, which calls for broader application of artificial intelligence across port management, services and customs supervision.

Taicang Port has established an intelligent logistics system. By linking with Shanghai's Yangshan Port, every stage of cargo handling, from vessel loading and unloading to inspection and customs clearance is connected. The system has helped enterprises cut logistics costs by more than 380 million yuan ($56.32 million).

The port has also streamlined connections between inland and ocean-going vessels by eliminating traditional documentation barriers.

AI plays a growing role in the port's safety and customs operations. AI-powered risk identification and early-warning technologies analyze large volumes of shipping data to automatically generate risk profiles for arriving vessels, enabling low-risk ships to receive immediate customs clearance upon declaration.

The port has further strengthened digital coordination with Nanjing Customs by linking systems across terminals, container yards and inspection centers. Businesses can complete inspection procedures online, significantly improving the efficiency of customs processing. Meanwhile, operational data from 5G-enabled remote-controlled quay cranes and automated rubber-tired gantry cranes is continuously monitored to detect abnormalities in real time, allowing early warnings to be issued to port operators and regulatory authorities.

Taicang Port is also promoting closer collaboration across the Suzhou port cluster. Through standardized digital interfaces, it has connected to the inland river terminals of Zhangjiagang, Changshu and Suzhou, enabling coordinated vessel allocation and cargo stowage.

Trusted sharing of cargo transfer and vessel movement data is also supporting seamless cargo transshipment between Taicang and ports throughout the Yangtze River Delta.