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AD Ports collaborates to achieve smart-port operations
A strategic partnership and research agreement will pilot a platform using data analytics to enhance ship berthing
AD Ports Group has partnered with NYU Abu Dhabi to deploy a digital solution to optimise ship docking at ports in the United Arab Emirates
Together, they will build, refine and trial digitalisation technology to improve intelligence on vessel arrivals and quayside capacity to better allocate ship berths.
NYU’s platform uses real-time data, stochastic models using artificial intelligence, and spatial awareness to provide a decision-support layer for human operators. It brings together vessel arrival time predictions, berth allocation optimisation suggestions, and environmental impact considerations to help AD Ports optimise ship docking.
AD Ports anticipates this intelligence will reduce the time ships remain at anchorage outside ports and improve marine service planning for tugs, pilots, and quayside services at terminals.
The UAE-headquartered group seeks to further derisk port call uncertainty and optimise harbour operations, resulting in smarter port calls that unlock more capacity without physical expansion.
“As we continue to reimagine logistics ecosystems to advance the frontiers of global trade, pioneering research and strategic partnerships remain key pillars of our digitally led approach,” said AD Ports group chief digital and information officer Mohamed Jamal-Eddine.
“By integrating our deep expertise in port operations and trade facilitation with advanced predictive arrival intelligence and resilient operational modelling, we are accelerating the pace towards a future of autonomous decision-support,” he said.
Aligning vessels’ arrival times with berth allocation could reduce idle time and save fuel, minimising AD Ports’ environmental footprint through greener port calls and sustainable shipping operations.
“Through strategic partnerships such as this with NYU Abu Dhabi, we are ensuring that our move to predictive precision is both robust and ethically sound, giving our global partners the certainty they need to navigate an increasingly complex trade landscape,” said Mr Jamal-Eddine.
AD Ports expects this jointly developed initiative to advance terminal-focused decarbonisation transparency and serve as an integrated operational and environmental digital decision layer.
It intends to pilot the digital technology at select terminals and trade lanes, to scale successful outcomes across the group’s global network.
“Our collaboration with AD Ports brings together academic expertise and practical insight to strengthen the efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of modern logistics,” said NYU Abu Dhabi provost Arlie Peters.
“This partnership reflects Abu Dhabi’s broader ambitions and the UAE’s leadership in trade and infrastructure,” he said.
“By connecting research with application, we aim to support the UAE’s continued role as a global hub for logistics. Developing data-driven approaches to support better decision-making improves long-term performance across port and logistics operations.”
AD Ports will support the initiative by providing secure access to relevant operational information and by facilitating controlled, real-world pilot deployments and field-tested solutions.
Riviera and Metis will host the AI in Fleet Performance Management: From Data to Decisions webinar at 09:30 – 10:30 GMT+1 on 12 May 2026. Use this link to join the webinar and for more details.
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