Recent events have changed the landscape for the global ports and maritime community, forcing terminal operators to adapt to a new economic climate. Establishing the outlook for automation for the decades to come will be the key focus of this full day workshop, which will also seek to explore the challenges that were encountered in deploying automated equipment in new and existing container terminals.

The workshop will provide a unique forum to discuss recent advances in technology and science behind terminal operations and the ways in which these can improve the competitiveness of ports. It will seek to bring together members of the industry who have experience in designing, deploying and operating automated container terminals as well as analysts and academics who have undertaken research on automation and related fields.

There will be no charge to attend the workshop, but interested parties should register by the 25th of March 2011. Speakers who wish to have their papers considered for publication in a special issue of Maritime Policy and Management (MPM) should submit a full paper after the workshop by the deadline given below.

The latest timeline is as follows:

• Title and abstract to be submitted by 28 February 2011 (CLOSED)
• Programme to be circulated by 10 March 2011
• Registration by 25 March 2011.
• Workshop to be take place on 5 April 2011
• Full paper submission by 31 August 2011 (after the workshop)