The first phase of a smart container transport system featuring a sky rail was put into operation at Qingdao Port, east China's Shandong Province, on Tuesday.

The first of its kind in the global port industry, the unmanned container transport system will replace trucks for the transportation of containers at the port upon completion, according to its developers. The pilot overhead rail section with a total length of 620 meters. Developed by the Qingdao Port in cooperation with CRRC Yangtze Co., Ltd., the new system will be built in the port's automated container terminal and the entire line will be 9.5 km long.

The system has adopted cutting-edge technologies in various fields.

"The system has integrated more than ten technologies including 5G, BeiDou positioning, communications navigation and laser scanning," said Li Yongcui, general manager of the port's automated container terminal.

The smart overhead rail system covers only some 30 percent of the area of highway passageways, avoids the disadvantages of high construction costs and low operating efficiency at the same time, and can effectively solve traffic congestion and safety hazards caused by too many freight vehicles at the port.

Li Bo, assistant general manager of the port's automated container terminal, said the system also helps reduce pollution and energy consumption.

"Our smart overhead rail system is powered by electricity, which greatly reduces pollutant emissions and urban noise. Compared with the traditional mode of truck transporting, it reduces energy consumption by more than 50 percent for handling one container," said Li.

The annual transportation capacity will reach 1.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units after the completion of the entire system, according to the port.