First AI driverless trucks deployed to tackle Hong Kong port labour shortage

Hutchison Port Holdings Trust has deployed Hong Kong’s first AI-powered driverless trucks, a move the container terminal operator said could help tackle a chronic manpower shortage and improve efficiency.

The trust, affiliated with Hutchison Ports – a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings, controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing’s family – on Tuesday invited media to view a fleet of six electric autonomous trucks at Kwai Tsing Container Terminal 4. The fleet was launched in January.

“Hong Kong has been affected by a labour shortage across sectors. In particular, the supply of commercial vehicle drivers has been relatively very tight and our port is no exception,” said Raymond Lam Wai-kui, director of operations at Hong Kong International Terminals, a member of Hutchison Port Holdings Trust.

“Introducing these driverless vehicles has helped us solve some of the issues brought about by a manpower crunch. We aim to expand this initiative to meet daily port operations without affecting existing staffing.”

Lam added that since the start of the year, the six autonomous trucks have handled more than 8,000 container movements at Terminal 4.

He also said that a key feature of the new fleet is that the driverless trucks do not require a designated lane and could share the same roads as traditional human-piloted trucks, explaining that they are equipped with AI-driven double cameras, an advanced positioning system, and a laser radar to operate in “mixed mode” at the port.