Government backs Port of Tyne trial to deploy autonomous logistics in a live port environment
A consortium led by the North East Automotive Alliance has secured Government funding to develop the UK's first autonomous container transport system at the Port of Tyne.
Image credit: Oxa. One of three Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) Terberg tractor units purchased by Vantec Europe for the V-CAL project
The P-CAL (Port-Connected and Automated Logistics) project will deploy fully autonomous terminal tractors and secure mesh communication networks to move containers between dockside and storage compounds, representing a significant advancement in UK port automation.
The initiative is funded through the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles' CAM Pathfinder – Enhancements programme, part of a broader £150 million investment announced in the Government's Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan. The programme aims to commercialise Connected and Automated Mobility vehicles whilst strengthening the UK's supply chain capabilities.
Key partners include Oxa, ANGOKA, Nissan, Newcastle University, Vantec Europe, BP and Womble Bond Dickinson, combining expertise in automation, cybersecurity, logistics and legal compliance.
Paul Butler, CEO at the NEAA, said, “P-CAL addresses the unique demands of quayside operations, where vehicles must coordinate precisely with cranes and navigate a constantly changing environment.
“This moves beyond our previous work into a completely new operational setting. With a focus on innovation, collaboration and environmental responsibility, this project will showcase the future of freight logistics.”
Running over nine months, the project aims to demonstrate a scalable, safe, and commercially viable autonomous logistics solution that supports the UK’s Net Zero goals while enhancing efficiency and safety. It is expected to reduce costs, create skilled jobs and lay the groundwork for wider adoption of autonomous logistics across UK ports and distribution centres.
Gavin Jackson, CEO at Oxa, described the P-CAL project as “a prime example of Industrial Mobility Automation in action. What we're showcasing here - safely automating complex container movements in a dynamic port environment - will act as a blueprint for port terminals in the UK and beyond. We believe this initiative offers a compelling vision for how autonomous technology will continue to optimise logistics - enhancing reliability and efficiency and improving operational safety globally.”
Matt Beeton, CEO at the Port of Tyne, said: “The P-CAL project cements the North East’s position as a driving force in industrial innovation. By deploying autonomous logistics in a live port environment, we’re not only enhancing safety and operational performance, but we are also shaping the future of the sector.
Shadi AR, CTO at ANGOKA, said, “the P-CAL project will be showcasing the world’s first-of-its-kind purpose-built quantum safe and secure digital infrastructure and mesh communication network for industrial and logistic automation. P-CAL will pioneer cost-effective, sustainable, and cyber-resilient industrial and logistics automation within ports and industrial parks."
Mark Cracknell, Programme Director at Zenzic, said, “It’s fantastic to see industry and government working together to ensure the UK is best placed to seize the CAM opportunity. From aviation to logistics and public transport, the programme will provide the funding and support required to help some of the nation’s brightest minds develop the technologies that will cement CAM as one of the industries of the future, creating high-skilled jobs and providing a major boost to the UK economy.”