OCR and PDS Container Terminal Operations

1. Introduction

Seaboard Marine hereafter referred to as “the Terminal”, is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to design, supply, implement, and support an integrated OCR (Optical Character Recognition), PDS (Position Detection System), and IoT-based system to enhance the automation, safety, accuracy, and efficiency of container terminal operations, in its Port Miami (POM) and Jacinto Port (JPI).

2. Project Objectives

  • Automate the recognition of container IDs, license plates, and other relevant visual data at entry/exit gates, top-handlers, and on cranes.
  •  Accurately detect and track the position and movement of containers and handling equipment.
  •  Integrate IoT sensors for real-time monitoring of operational metrics (e.g., equipment status, environmental data, container weight/tilt).
  •  Provide real-time data visualization and analytics dashboards.
  •  Interface with Terminal Operating System (TOS) and other legacy systems.

3. Scope of Work

The selected vendor will be responsible for:

3.1 OCR System

  • Gate OCR for trucks (license plate, container number, chassis ID, gensets). Damage recognition of equipment and tires.
  • Crane OCR (Mobile Harbor Cranes (MHC)) for container ID and damage recognition.
  •  Top-handler OCR (Reachstackers, toploaders, empty handlers) for container ID recognition.

3.2 PDS (Position Detection System)

  • Real-time location tracking of yard equipment (hostlers/mules, reachstackers,
    toploaders, empty handlers, and possible forklifts).
  • GPS/RTLS/IMU-based positioning of containers.
  •  High accuracy and low-latency updates.

3.3 Software & Integration

  • Unified dashboard for all OCR and PDS data.
  • Alerts, reports, and analytics features.
  • API-based integration with TOS (e.g., Navis, Tideworks, Paceco, etc.).
  • Web/mobile user interfaces.

3.4 Services

  • Installation, commissioning, and system testing.
  • Training for staff and operators.
  • 24/7 technical support and maintenance.
  • Warranty and SLAs.

4. Terminals Overview

  • POM:
    • Volume – 625k TEUs
    •  General cargo – 150k tons
    • 43 Top-handlers (reachstackers, toploaders & empty handlers)
    • 76 hostlers/mules (Tersberg, Ottowa, Mafi)
    • 4 MHC (Liebherr with 2 additional MHC in November)
  • JPI:
    • Volume – 325k TEUs
    • General cargo – 300k tons
    • 18 Top-handlers (reachstackers, toploaders, & empty handlers)
    • 39 hostlers/mules (Tersberg, Ottowa, Mafi)
    • 2 MHC (Liebherr)

5. Proposal Requirements

Respondents must provide:

  • Company profile and relevant experience.
  • Detailed technical solution (hardware, software, network).
  • Implementation timeline and milestones.
  • Case studies or reference projects.
  •  Support and training plans.
  •  Pricing structure (CAPEX/OPEX).
  •  Compliance with relevant international standards (e.g., ISO 9897, IEC 62443, etc.).

6. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of:

  • Technical capability and innovation.
  • Proven track record in similar port automation projects.
  • System scalability and flexibility.Total cost of ownership (TCO).
  • Support and service model.
  • Security and data protection compliance.

7. Submission Instructions

  • Submission deadline: July 11, 2025
  • Questions due by: June 28, 2025
  • Submit proposals via email to: paul.hydock@seaboardmarine.com
  • Subject line: “RFP Response – OCR and PDS – [Vendor Name]”

8. Terms and Conditions

  • The Terminal reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals.
  • All costs associated with proposal development are the responsibility of the proposer. Final contract award is subject to budget approval and internal compliance.