How much time does it take to install Crane OCR?
Are you considering installing Crane OCR but afraid it might cause too much delay or disturbance in your operations? With the CERTUS project approach, interference to the operational flow is minimal. This blog is to teach you about our project approach.
Installing Crane OCR on STS cranes is challenging. These cranes are critical for terminal operations, and gaining access to them requires sufficient notice to plan resources well. In CERTUS’ experience, terminal operators often give only 24 hours’ notice when an STS crane becomes available. Even then, they may cancel access at the last moment.
For brownfield operations, CERTUS uses the following approach:
#1 DEPLOY
CERTUS will deploy Crane OCR on a first crane in joint effort with the terminal local maintenance organization, during a scheduled quarterly/annual outage. The deployment of the first crane will typically take 1 workweek and can be done in parallel with regular maintenance.
#2 TRAIN
CERTUS will train local resources on the job during the first crane. This enables the local maintenance organization to install and maintain in the absence of CERTUS.
#3 SUPPORT
CERTUS will stay in the lead on bi-weekly progress meetings. We provide support for any questions during deployment, and perform commissioning based on the first 100 operational boxes being moved. These tasks can be performed remotely or onsite when preferred.
This approach has shown us that it is the most cost‑effective option for everyone involved. It also helps embed the system more effectively within the organization, leading to a smoother go‑live and a more reliable system after implementation.
"
In terms of planning and duration, one can assume a single crane can be equipped within a week.
Now that the system is installed, every move will be captured. The spreader moves between vessel and berth and while it does, a set of cameras will capture container images from multiple sides. The various images are sent to the system, where within seconds, the system performs OCR on every individual image and determines the final recognition result. This is then sent to the central Exception Control Software which validates the transaction against the TOS data. There is no change in the current operations of the crane operator.
Start Crane OCR on your terminal today!
EMAIL US
sales@certusautomation.com
CALL US
+31 85 006 88 00
HEAD OFFICE
Rietlanden 3, Sliedrecht - NL
© 2026 CERTUS Port Automation B.V. / All rights reserved
Privacy | Terms & Conditions | Site map | Contact