For many ports and container terminals, growth is expanding in all directions apart from one: their physical footprint.
The 2025 market has started strong, building on a global container volume increase of 6% in 2024 compared to the previous year. This marks the second-highest growth rate since 2013, surpassed only by the post-pandemic surge of 2021. Meanwhile, the global container vessel fleet has also expanded significantly, growing 10.7% in 2024 compared to 2023. And that growth isn’t slowing as more than 8 million TEU of container shipping capacity are currently on order for delivery by 2029.
With volume and vessel capacity on an upward trajectory, ports and terminals face the challenge of handling more traffic without having access to additional, physical space. At the same time, environmental regulations across Europe are becoming more stringent, requiring ports to scale operations while minimizing their environmental footprint through decarbonization efforts. Many of these facilities already operate at high capacity, making it critical to introduce solutions that enable higher throughput without disrupting existing workflows.
We work with port and terminal operators from the earliest conceptual stages of their projects, supporting business case development and assessing operational impact before major investments are made. Our expertise combines engineering excellence with decades of experience in port and terminal development, complemented by our cutting-edge digital solutions, NextPort and FlexTerm, which allow operators to model, optimize, and future-proof their operations.
NextPort is our operational digital twin, a powerful AI-driven platform that connects data, processes, and systems in real-time to support better decision-making. By integrating machine learning and predictive analytics, NextPort helps ports and terminals optimize berth scheduling, manage energy consumption, and reduce inefficiencies—all while improving sustainability and resilience in an increasingly complex operating environment.
FlexTerm is our advanced simulation and emulation tool, designed to help engineers and operations teams assess design options, estimate costs, and evaluate performance conditions. FlexTerm enables users to access simulation and emulation technologies to best suit their project needs, allowing them to test and refine both their plans and live operations.
By combining Moffatt & Nichol’s deep industry knowledge with NextPort and FlexTerm’s state-of-the-art digital technology, ports and terminals are empowered to meet the challenges of today while preparing for the demands of tomorrow—ensuring that growth is achieved in a sustainable and efficient way.
