SYSTEM

STS Crane OCR

Every lift captured. Every container attribute recognized. Every move verified.

Solutions and products Container Handling STS Crane OCR
Gain complete visibility across STS crane operations with Visy OCR

Visy STS Crane OCR automatically images all sides of each container and recognizes container IDs, ISO codes, dangerous goods labels (IMDG/ADR), seal presence, and door direction as ship-to-shore cranes handle the containers. Visy Crane Gate makes all recognition results available in real time and sends them directly to the TOS, giving operators, coordinators, and management complete visibility into every container move on the quay.

Visy configures each STS crane deployment to match the customer’s specific operations, including all lift types, spreader flight paths, backreach, and platform operations. In short, whether the goal is to increase gross moves per hour, eliminate false lifts, improve dangerous goods handling, or clarify liability for container damage, the system delivers measurable results.

LaneView – Imaging of container sides
PTZ cameras mounted on the STS crane’s portal beams and legs image all sides of each container during every lift. The system uses no moving parts on the crane structure, supporting reliable and durable operation in harsh quayside environments. The cameras interface with the PLC to calculate spreader flight paths accurately and optimize the imaging moment. As a result, they capture high-quality images regardless of the lifting position, flight path, or environmental conditions. The system operates in temperatures ranging from −40°C to +50°C.
TopView – Roof imaging and early ID capture
Visy TopView cameras mounted on the spreader read container IDs from the roof immediately after the twistlocks lock onto the container. The system validates the recognized ID against the work order and shares it with the TOS in real time, preventing false lifts, verifying correct stacking locations, and keeping loading and discharge operations on track. Additionally, see also: Visy TopView – Spreader OCR.

Visy TopView

Wharf Application
On the quayside, Visy STS Crane OCR integrates with the Visy Wharf Application Suite – connecting crane operators, coordinators, and lashers in a single, synchronized workflow. Early container ID verification from TopView feeds into Visy Wharf App, informing operators in real time whether a container is planned for discharge or not. The Wharf Dispatcher View gives coordinators full visibility of loading sequences and terminal tractor positions, while Visy Pinning App ensures lashers receive accurate twistlock instructions for every task.

Available for customers using Navis4 TOS.

Terminal Tractor number recognition
Visy TTView recognizes terminal tractor ID numbers and roof markings using the same PTZ cameras deployed for container side imaging. Recognized vehicle IDs are automatically linked with the active lifting task – improving cargo tracking, supporting accurate job assignment, and increasing overall operational visibility.

Visy STS Crane OCR – What We Recognize

License plate
Container ID
ISO code
Orientation
Dangerous goods labels
Seal presence
Weight markings
Damage

Every STS crane deployment is configured to fit your operations.

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Hardware & System
The STS crane OCR system is built around PTZ cameras mounted on portal beams and crane legs, positioned to image all container sides without moving parts on the crane structure, maximizing reliability in demanding quayside environments. Visy TopView cameras are installed on the spreader for roof imaging. All hardware is designed and selected by Visy to match the specific crane type, brand, and operational requirements of each project. The system operates in conditions from -40°C to +50°C..
Software & Applications
Recognition results are processed by Visy’s in-house OCR software and made available in real time through Visy Crane Gate – the management application for reviewing events, inspecting images, handling exceptions, and exchanging data with the TOS. The Wharf Dispatcher View within Crane Gate gives quayside coordinators full visibility of loading operations from a single interface.
Integrations
The system interfaces with the PLC and CCS to optimize imaging timing across all spreader positions and flying paths. Recognized container IDs, ISO codes, and other data are passed to the TOS in real time. The Visy Wharf Application Suite connects crane operators, coordinators, and lashers through synchronized, TOS-integrated applications.
Configurations & Options
Visy configures each STS crane OCR system to cover all lift types – including single, twin, tandem, quad, and tank lifts – as well as backreach and platform operations. Terminals can add tractor recognition through TTView cameras, RFID, or license plate recognition, while Visy ADDS provides automatic container damage detection. Visy wharf applications—including Visy Wharf App, Visy Pinning App, and Wharf Dispatcher View in Visy Crane Gate—extend the system’s value to crane operators, lashers, and quayside coordinators. Visy customizes all recognition features and applications to match the customer’s operational requirements and container-handling processes.

Validation of moves against work orders through OCR-driven data capture and exception handling – increasing gross moves per hour and eliminating false lifts.

Built for the demands of quay operations.

The STS crane operating environment is one of the most demanding in terminal operations – high volumes, multiple parallel lifting cases, strict vessel schedules, and zero tolerance for errors. Visy STS Crane OCR is designed for exactly this environment.

All recognition tasks run in parallel, covering every container side and every lift type – single, twin, tandem, quad, and tank. The system interfaces with PLC and CCS to ensure imaging is optimized for every spreader position and flying path. All captured data flows instantly to Visy Crane Gate and the TOS, where exceptions are raised and handled without disrupting the operation.

Further more, for container damage documentation, Visy ADDS can be deployed alongside the system to automatically detect damage on containers arriving from outside the terminal – providing timestamped, image-based proof of pre-existing damage at the point of arrival.

Improve your for berth productivity

  • Increase gross moves per hour
  • Eliminate false lifts
  • Clear liabilities with full container side image documentation
sts crane visy ocr

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