North East organisations have secured a slice of a £150m Government funding deal to help create a Ƶ first in self-driving solutions at ports.
The North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA) and the Port of Tyne have joined a number of businesses, including autonomous vehicle technology provider Oxa and cybersecurity firm Angoka on a specific programme exploring Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) solutions, which includes self-driving vehicles connected to a network.
Set to run for nine months, the programme is called P-CAL – Port-Connected and Automated Logistics, and it will see the NEAA work with the Port of Tyne and a host of specialists on creating a self-driving tractor at the Port. It is expected to reduce costs, create skilled jobs and lay the groundwork for wider adoption of autonomous logistics across Ƶ ports and distribution centres.
The P-CAL project – which forms part of the wider £150m CAM Pathfinder – Enhancements programme – will see the NEAA and a consortium of partners to deliver the pioneering project, which will demonstrate autonomous container transport at the Port of Tyne.
The consortium will deploy a fully autonomous terminal tractor and communication network to move containers between the dockside and the container compound, creating a Ƶ first in waterside port automation, amid aims to demonstrate a scalable, safe, and commercially viable autonomous logistics solution.
Consortium members include the NEAA, the Port of Tyne, Oxa, Nissan, Newcastle University, Angoka, Vantec Europe, BP and Womble Bond Dickinson, bringing together 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.”
Gavin Jackson, CEO at Oxa, said: “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 Ƶ 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. We’re proud that the Port of Tyne is leading the work with our key partners and proving what’s possible for ports across the Ƶ and beyond.”
The £150m CAM Pathfinder initiative aims to address complexities in commercialising CAM vehicles as well as support and grow its supply chain and ready the market for CAM services.
The programme is funded by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), a joint unit between the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Transport (DfT), delivered in partnership with Innovate Ƶ and Zenzic.
