HHLA has been processing data electronically for 55 years.
The most modern technology at that time seems strange and oversized today.
Scroll down and take a look!
1997
Real-time data
In most cases, customer wishes were behind the developments. In order to meet them quickly, dedicated lines were set up to major customers such as Hapag Lloyd. From 1997 onwards, they were able to request information about the current status of containers at HHLA’s terminals at any time using the web application COAST.
1984
Wireless communication
The computers massively simplified the complex task of creating of stowage plans for the safe loading of ships. Data on container movements in the yard could also soon be captured and optimised using programs. This in turn was the basis for the introduction of radio data transmission, a quantum leap in operations. From 1984 onwards, orders were “radioed” to a small screen in the straddle carrier that was closest to the container that needed to be transported.
1975
Individual processing
In their technical language, the IT pioneers took the step from “batch processing” the same orders to “event-driven individual processing”. With the aid of the PDP 11/70 octal computer, which was actually specially developed for use in hospitals, they were able to access a common database for the first time and write or adapt programs themselves.
1968
Mainframe
At the same time, HHLA purchased one of the first real computers. It was an IBM mainframe, which was the size of a living room. Only two of them existed in the whole of Hamburg. Back then, data transport involved a courier collecting the magnetic tapes with the data written on it from one facility and delivering it to the next.
1960
There has always been a need to perform lots of calculations at HHLA. Working out the wages for the dockers was once a particularly tricky task. Nobody wanted to argue with them on payday about whether the various bonuses and supplements had been entered correctly. A sophisticated system of “lottery tickets” was therefore devised back in the 1960s. The name was derived from the many holes in the cards that the so-called Hollerith machines read. Thirty punch card operators (who, incidentally, were all women, as this kind of work was considered their domain) punched the 80 possible positions on the cards marked by the foremen and thus helped to ensure that the correct salary was paid. Container data was still stored on the somewhat easier to use IBM 029 card punch until the 1970s.
Punched cards
HHLA has been processing data electronically for 55 years. The most modern technology at that time seems strange and oversized today. Scroll down and take a look!
1997
Real-time data
In most cases, customer wishes were behind the developments. In order to meet them quickly, dedicated lines were set up to major customers such as Hapag Lloyd. From 1997 onwards, they were able to request information about the current status of containers at HHLA’s terminals at any time using the web application COAST.
1984
Wireless communication
The computers massively simplified the complex task of creating of stowage plans for the safe loading of ships. Data on container movements in the yard could also soon be captured and optimised using programs. This in turn was the basis for the introduction of radio data transmission, a quantum leap in operations. From 1984 onwards, orders were “radioed” to a small screen in the straddle carrier that was closest to the container that needed to be transported.
1975
Individual processing
In their technical language, the IT pioneers took the step from “batch processing” the same orders to “event-driven individual processing”. With the aid of the PDP 11/70 octal computer, which was actually specially developed for use in hospitals, they were able to access a common database for the first time and write or adapt programs themselves.
1968
Mainframe
At the same time, HHLA purchased one of the first real computers. It was an IBM mainframe, which was the size of a living room. Only two of them existed in the whole of Hamburg. Back then, data transport involved a courier collecting the magnetic tapes with the data written on it from one facility and delivering it to the next.
1960
Punched cards
There has always been a need to perform lots of calculations at HHLA. Working out the wages for the dockers was once a particularly tricky task. Nobody wanted to argue with them on payday about whether the various bonuses and supplements had been entered correctly. A sophisticated system of “lottery tickets” was therefore devised back in the 1960s. The name was derived from the many holes in the cards that the so-called Hollerith machines read. Thirty punch card operators (who, incidentally, were all women, as this kind of work was considered their domain) punched the 80 possible positions on the cards marked by the foremen and thus helped to ensure that the correct salary was paid. Container data was still stored on the somewhat easier to use IBM 029 card punch until the 1970s.
