On September 30, the customs supervision operation site at the Changsha Zhongnan Consolidation Center welcomed a new breakthrough in intelligent operations. A drone equipped with an electronic customs lock reader took off autonomously, precisely located containers in the yard, and successfully completed remote seal application operations. This marks the official launch and full-scale operation of Hunan Province's first "zone-port linkage" drone seal application project, which has successfully completed live container verification, delivering a tangible intelligent achievement as a tribute to National Day.
The project was jointly developed by Sinotrans and China Merchants Communications Technology, with support from China Merchants Group, as well as Changsha Customs and Xingsha Customs, and provincial and municipal port authorities. Grounded in the needs of Changsha's smart port construction, the project innovatively integrates drone flight control, visual large-model technology, and customs supervision operations, revolutionizing the traditional port seal application process.
It is reported that seal application is a critical regulatory step in cross-border container clearance. After goods are loaded, a customs-specific lock is applied and recorded in the supervision system, which effectively prevents unauthorized opening or swapping during transit, ensuring the security and traceability of cross-border logistics. Previously, export consolidated cargo had to be transferred to designated checkpoints to complete seal application and declaration, with fixed operation points and high reliance on manual labor. During peak periods, vehicles piled up at checkpoints, significantly slowing clearance efficiency and increasing logistics time costs for enterprises.
After the project's implementation, the operation model has been upgraded from "containers finding equipment" to "drones finding containers." The intelligent system monitors loading progress in real time, automatically dispatches tasks, and drones precisely verify container numbers and positions to quickly complete electronic lock seal application. The entire process achieves a digital closed-loop operation. Within three minutes after seal application, the system automatically initiates arrival declaration to customs, with real-time data interconnection and receipt confirmation among the port, customs, and terminal. According to estimates, the operation time per container can be reduced by 20%. The new model allows enterprises to track progress in real time, reduces frontline operational pressure, and cuts exhaust emissions from idling vehicles, balancing efficient clearance with green and low-carbon operations.
Alongside the intelligent upgrade, regulatory safety and precision have also been enhanced. The project focuses on three core elements: "finding the right container, locking it in place, and ensuring data connectivity," achieving an intelligent identification and verification accuracy rate of 99.8%, eliminating mis-sealing and erroneous sealing issues. All operations are fully traceable and auditable, with efficient and secure data exchange. For emergencies such as network or power outages, severe weather, and lock abnormalities, the project is equipped with contingency mechanisms including offline operations, electronic fencing, and multi-sensor protection, comprehensively safeguarding port supervision security.
As an important supporting facility for the China-Europe Railway Express (Changsha), the intelligent upgrade of the Zhongnan Consolidation Center precisely empowers Hunan's small, medium, and micro foreign trade enterprises to go global. By streamlining operational steps, reducing clearance time, and lowering logistics costs, it further strengthens the core competitiveness of the Changsha international freight train service and supports the high-quality development of Hunan's export-oriented economy. Next, Sinotrans will continue to expand smart port application scenarios, deepen digital, intelligent, green, and secure port construction, and inject more new logistics momentum into Hunan's efforts to build a highland of inland reform and opening-up.