The semiautomatic container terminal TTI Algeciras has put into operation the appointment system by time slots developed by the German company passify, the first solution of its kind deployed at a terminal in Spain. Beyond the novelty of its deployment, the internal functioning of the tool reveals a platform that aspires to transform the land operations of container terminals through the complete digitalization of the access and circulation process of trucks.
TTI Algeciras is primarily a transshipment terminal located on the European shore of the Strait of Gibraltar, jointly owned by the South Korean shipping company HMM and the CMA CGM group. The facility has a design capacity of up to 1.6 million TEUs per year and is currently in the process of expansion by another 0.5 million additional TEUs. Its access system is fully automated, with the truck exchange area located at the land end of the blocks of automated stacking cranes (ASC).
The value of the new tool lies not only in the application itself but in the integrated platform that connects terminals, transport companies, and drivers through three interlinked portals: a web application for terminals, another web application for transport operators, and a mobile application for drivers. The system has the potential to allow terminals to eliminate access kiosks at the gate, as long as at least a 90% adoption rate is achieved among drivers.
The new system allows transport companies to book precise time slots for each truck, linking the reservations to the vehicle license plates. Upon arrival, the license plate is automatically scanned at the access gate and cross-referenced with the reservation data. If the arrival occurs within the agreed tolerance, access is granted and the process continues. The application integrates with the terminal's existing systems, including the TOS provided by CyberLogitec and the gate operating system (GOS) provided by Certus, through API connections.
The tool allows the terminal to set limits on the number of trucks per hour, define early or late arrival windows, and assign priority or private slots when necessary. It also incorporates dashboards and reports with data on compliance, peak periods, cancellations, and absences. Although the application only manages operational tasks and does not handle scheduling or job assignments, passify believes it can help terminals manage peak activity periods more efficiently, improve yard equipment utilization, and increase predictability for shippers and shipping lines.
The application also provides step-by-step guidance from arrival to departure, including instructions on what to prepare and where to go, which reduces the need for phone calls between drivers, dispatchers, and gate staff. Terminals can track where each driver is in the interaction process through the Yard View function. The system offers drivers a navigation feature that guides them between checkpoints and alerts them if they veer off designated routes, allowing the terminal to redirect drivers in real time in response to changes in yard conditions, such as congestion, equipment delays, or container movements.
Passify has clarified that the application does not provide continuous live tracking or GPS monitoring to TTI. It can receive estimated arrival times from transport management systems, and the optional navigation within the application can temporarily use location data to guide drivers within the terminal, although this data remains active only while the navigation function is in use. The platform also enables direct communication between terminal operators and drivers via a dedicated chat function that is currently in testing.
The tool was developed by HHLA Next, the innovation arm of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG. After an initial testing phase in mid-2023 and the beginning of use by drivers at the Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) in Hamburg in January 2024, the three main terminals of HHLA had replaced the traditional carrier card with the digital system by the end of that same year. In 2025, passify GmbH was established as an independent subsidiary.
Marcel Lindemann, co-founder of passify, explained that the early and in-person incorporation of users during the startup phase was crucial for achieving their acceptance. According to Lindemann, the company avoided a mass launch, instead opting for a gradual rollout by terminal and process, starting voluntarily before moving to mandatory use once users became familiar. The co-founder has pointed out that a high impact depends on wide adoption, ideally around 90%, and emphasized the importance of maintaining the system's simplicity to facilitate acceptance. Lindemann also indicated that the company can now progressively replace the remaining kiosk systems at HHLA, as all relevant information and data entry functions are already available in the application.
Regarding the deployment at TTI Algeciras, Lindemann stated that introducing a standardized and digital time slot reservation system is a significant step for Spanish port logistics, as for the first time transport companies, drivers, and terminal operators share a single real-time platform that eliminates inefficiencies and provides full transparency at the access gate.
For his part, Francisco Rivera, deputy general director and COO of TTI Algeciras, stated that the TAS provides a level of visibility and operational control that the terminal did not previously have. According to Rivera, by more accurately coordinating the regulation of truck arrival flows, the terminal can reduce waiting times due to congestion, improve truck turnaround times, and offer a better experience for its transport partners. Rivera has described this project as an essential step in TTI Algeciras's long-term digital transformation strategy.