SYSTEM

Visy TopView

Automatic container ID recognition from the roof. Every lift identified, recorded, and verified in real time.

Solutions and products Container Handling Visy TopView
Know what you move – on every lift, with every piece of equipment.

Visy TopView is a spreader-mounted OCR camera system that automatically reads container IDs from the roof during each lift. Recognition is processed immediately after the locks attach to the container – delivering verified container identity data before the move is complete.

The recognized ID is shared in real time with the Position Detection System and Terminal Operating System, ensuring every container move is digitized, validated, and reflected in the yard inventory and bay plan. No unknown containers. No unrecorded moves. No false lifts.

TopView is compatible with all types of container handling equipment – from STS, RTG, and RMG cranes to reach stackers and top loaders – and integrates seamlessly with single, tandem, twin, and quad spreaders. All components, including cameras, illuminators, and the control cabinet, are mounted directly on the spreader. The system architecture is designed project by project to find the right balance between performance and cost for every customer.

Features on STS deployment

Container ID + roof image
TopView cameras are mounted in the moving part of the spreader to read the container ID from the end of the container roof on every lift. For damage inspection and twin-lift spreaders, cameras are also mounted in the fixed part in the middle. Capturing high-quality images of the full container roof support both the damage inspection and liability documentation processes in addition to verification through ID recognition.

Earlier detection of incorrect lifts
With the OCR cameras in the spreader, the lifted container is known only seconds after picking the container. This allows the system to verify the container against the work list from TOS and alert the clerk significantly earlier as compared to just traditional crane OCR systems. There is no need to wait until the container is on the quay to know it is not on the list, and this creates significant time saving on every wrong lift.
Advanced features from TopView
Beyond ID recognition, TopView supports
• Twin-Twenty Detection to alert the operator if twin lift is being done in single lift position
• Lift type detection to provide more info on the lift and e.g. minimize unnecessary exception handling due to hatch covers
• Visy ADDS to automatically detect container roof damage – turning every lift into a condition check

Built for every crane and CHE in your terminal

Top picks

Reach stackers

Mobile harbor cranes

Rail-Mounted-Gantry cranes

Rubber-Tired-Gantry cranes

Ship-To-Shore cranes

The compounding impact of knowing every container

When container ID recognition is confirmed on every lift, the entire operation becomes more reliable. Vessel turnaround times decrease because moves are not wasted searching for misplaced containers. Equipment utilization increases as operators focus on productive lifts. Rehandles become less frequent because containers are where they should be. And over time, accurate inventory unlocks hidden yard capacity – allowing terminals to handle greater volume without adding equipment or expanding the yard footprint.

TopView supports both manual and automated crane operations, and has delivered proven, measurable KPI improvements across deployments in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.

Every deployment is configured to fit your operations.

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Hardware & System
TopView recognition components: cameras, illuminators, and the control cabinet, are mounted directly on the spreader and designed to withstand demanding outdoor environments, from -40°C to +50°C. The recognition PC is located in the E-house or trolley. The multi-camera setup provides redundancy, ensuring continuous operation even if one camera is affected. Hardware is selected and configured project by project to match the specific spreader model, crane type, and operational requirements.
Software & Applications
TopView runs on Visy’s in-house OCR software, developed and refined over decades of real-world deployments to achieve high recognition accuracy. The recognition engine processes images on an on-site PC and applies built-in validation logic to ensure the correct container ID is identified every time – even when multiple codes are visible or markings are damaged. Recognition results and captured images are accessible in real time through Visy Crane Gate user application.
Integrations

Recognized container IDs are shared in real time with the Position Detection System (PDS), which combines the ID with location data on every lift and set event. The data is also passed to the Terminal Operating System (TOS) to keep yard inventory up to date and trigger exception handling when a container does not match the work order.

On the quayside, TopView integrates with the Visy Wharf Application Suite – providing early container ID verification to crane operators, validating moves against the bay plan, and eliminating false lifts before they happen.
Configurations & Options
TopView is compatible with any crane type and CHE – from STS and RTG cranes to reach stackers, top picks, and mobile harbor cranes. Every system is designed and configured based on the specific equipment, spreader model, and operational requirements of the project. Whether a new crane delivery or a retrofit, Visy’s experienced team ensures the right setup from hardware placement to system architecture.

Recognition features are configured to match each customer’s lift types and operations including single, twin, tandem, and quad lifts, ensuring the system covers the full scope of container handling.

TopView can be extended with Visy ADDS for automatic container damage detection on the roof.

Measurable results across every operation

  • Eliminate errors in container stacking and loading
  • Increase lifts per hour and equipment utilization
  • Clear liabilities with roof image documentation

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