Saudi port of NEOM using AI and automation to support its operations
As maritime trade continues to expand, ports worldwide are
accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and
clean energy to enhance operational efficiency and environmental performance.
According to MarketsandMarkets, the global smart port market is projected to
grow from USD 2.53 billion in 2025 to USD 7.95 billion by 2030—driven by the
need for intelligent infrastructure to support the evolving demands of global
logistics.
At the forefront of this transformation is the Port of NEOM,
Saudi Arabia’s gateway to the northwest and a cornerstone of the futuristic
Oxagon district. Designed to be one of the most technologically advanced,
efficient, and sustainable ports in the world, it is pioneering a fully
automated and AI-powered logistics network that aligns with NEOM’s broader
vision for clean, connected industries.
Driving clean industry through automation
Melissa Blake, Director of Operations at Port of NEOM,
emphasizes that automation and sustainability are embedded in the port’s DNA.
“Our goal is to create a next-generation, all-electric, AI-powered terminal
where efficiency, visibility, and sustainability are built in at every level,”
she explains.
Key technologies and features include:
- Intelligent Guided Vehicles (IGVs)
- Fully automated Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes
- Electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry (eRTG) yard cranes
- AI-integrated Terminal Operating and Fleet Management Systems
These systems are designed to reduce energy waste, improve
throughput, and enable predictive control using machine learning. The first
phase—Terminal 1—is set to begin operations in 2026, with full automation
targeted by 2028.
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Already, major infrastructure milestones have been reached:
- 900-meter quay wall
- 18.5-meter-deep channel to accommodate the world’s largest vessels
- Cold ironing systems to eliminate vessel emissions at berth
- Use of low-carbon, green steel reducing embodied CO₂ by 40%
The port will meet 50% of its energy demand through solar, managed by an AI-optimized energy system, and aims for LEED Platinum and Gold certifications across its buildings and infrastructure.
AI: The core engine of efficiency and sustainability
AI plays a foundational role in the Port of NEOM’s
transformation. As full automation unfolds, AI will be applied across multiple
operational layers, from energy forecasting to real-time fleet coordination.
Highlights:
Energy Optimization: AI analyzes historical trends, vessel
schedules, and weather to predict peak demand, enabling smarter solar energy
and battery use.
Fleet and Equipment Management: AI-driven control systems
enhance the performance of electric cranes, IGVs, and other terminal vehicles.
Workforce Evolution: Traditional roles are
evolving—operators now function as Production Specialists overseeing systems
remotely from centralized, climate-controlled control rooms.
This human-technology partnership improves real-time
coordination, boosts safety, and supports a digitally skilled, future-ready
workforce.
Overcoming automation challenges with innovation and training
Transitioning to full automation brings complexity,
especially around system integration. Coordinating automated STS cranes with
IGVs requires precise real-time communication and container handoff, demanding
high reliability and safety.
To overcome this, Port of NEOM is:
- Collaborating with global tech leaders for integration solutions
- Investing in technical training for local talent, including a groundbreaking program to train Saudi women to operate automated gantry cranes
- Embedding manual oversight during initial phases to ensure operational continuity and safety
Blake notes, “By building in skilled human oversight from
the outset, we ensure that automation is not only high-performing—but also safe
and resilient.”
A model for global maritime innovation
The Port of NEOM isn’t just setting new standards locally—it
aims to influence global port operations. From 100% renewable energy targets to
zero sea discharge policies and 95% landfill diversion, the port’s design
offers a scalable model for future-ready, climate-conscious logistics.
Key collaborations include:
World Economic Forum: Development of the Lighthouse
Operating System, a framework for embedding sustainability and automation in
port operations
Siemens & ZPMC: For electric crane systems
Mevea: For digital twin integration in crane automation
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Incubating the future: Innovation at scale
As a living lab for innovation, Port of NEOM is actively
testing emerging technologies through the Oxagon Accelerator and global tech
partners. Current pilots include:
| Technology | Partner |
Focus Area|
| ---------------------------- | --------------- | | --------------|
| AI safety monitoring |
Viact |
Real-time incident detection|
| Predictive maintenance
| Groundup.ai | Operational resilience |
| Robotic twistlock automation | Gafka
|
Container handling efficiency |
| Wearable tech | SlateSafety |
Worker wellbeing monitoring|
| Autonomous trucks |
Aitonomi | Smart trailer coupling and integration with
crane systems |
These pilots are part of a broader innovation roadmap
spanning seven countries, focusing on robotics, autonomous logistics, HSE tech,
and AI-driven decision support.
Scalability by design
Unlike traditional ports that must retrofit legacy systems,
Port of NEOM benefits from greenfield scalability. From concept to
construction, automation was a first principle, enabling seamless integration
across both maritime and inland logistics.
Compared to ports like Hamburg and Barcelona, which
prioritize smart traffic and city-port integration, NEOM’s port infrastructure
leapfrogs ahead with embedded, end-to-end automation and renewable energy alignment
from day one.
Blake concludes:
“Our vision is to become the most intelligent and
sustainable port ecosystem in the world—demonstrating that automation and clean
energy can go hand-in-hand to reshape global trade and logistics.”
Final word
The Port of NEOM is not just building a port—it’s crafting a blueprint for the future of logistics. Through automation, AI, and sustainability, it is setting new global benchmarks and proving that ports can be clean, smart, and scalable—all at once.
As the port approaches full operations, all eyes will be on
NEOM—not just as a futuristic city, but as a world-leading logistics hubredefining
what’s possible at the intersection of technology and trade.
Source: www.seanews.co.uk
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