ColdQuanta and SavantX Launch Quantum-Powered Optimization Engine at PASC Port Terminal

Unlocking Port Efficiency with Quantum Tools

Global ports have become choke points in international supply chains, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Suez Canal incident. With ships waiting offshore, container terminals under strain, and inland logistics struggling to keep up, improving throughput without major physical infrastructure expansion has become a priority.

In this context, ColdQuanta and SavantX partnered with the Port of Los Angeles to demonstrate the role of quantum-enhanced logistics at a working terminal. Unlike previous lab simulations, this project delivered a real-world application of quantum computing principles in daily port operations.

The PASC Terminal: A High-Throughput Testbed

Pier 300, operated by PASC, is one of the busiest container terminals in the U.S. West Coast, handling hundreds of thousands of TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) monthly. Challenges include:

• Scheduling dozens of cranes across complex yard layouts

• Coordinating container stacking to minimize rehandling

• Ensuring rapid truck turn times

• Managing workforce allocation under union constraints and peak hour loads

Traditional planning tools rely on rule-based systems and classical optimization. The ColdQuanta-SavantX partnership sought to determine whether quantum-enhanced optimization could outperform or complement these approaches.

The Quantum Optimization Engine: Architecture and Method

Hybrid Quantum-Inspired Platform

SavantX developed a quantum-inspired scheduling platform, incorporating:

• Heuristic Quantum Algorithms: These emulate quantum behavior on classical systems while awaiting more powerful quantum processors.

• Constraint Programming Modules: To model union rules, equipment availability, and cargo type restrictions.

• Dynamic Scheduling Feedback Loops: Inputs from real-time port operations, including crane location telemetry and truck RFID scans.

ColdQuanta, a leader in cold atom quantum systems, provided quantum hardware and algorithmic validation. While full-scale quantum hardware was not used directly in daily operations, simulations and scheduling models were developed and validated on ColdQuanta’s quantum processors.

Key Use Cases Deployed

1. Crane dispatch sequencing: Minimize idle time and reduce overlap between gantry cranes.

2. Container stack planning: Optimize load/unload sequences to minimize reshuffles.

3. Truck appointment windows: Dynamically adjust pickup schedules to reduce congestion.

Measured Impact: 60% Improvement in Crane Productivity

After three months of deployment, the pilot reported significant operational improvements:

• 60% improvement in crane productivity: Based on reduced wait and idle times.

• 18–20% decrease in average truck turn times: Due to more accurate appointment and sequencing.

• 30% improvement in yard slot utilization: Container stacking was more efficient and required fewer moves.

• Reduced gate congestion and emissions: Thanks to better schedule harmonization with trucking carriers.

These results were captured using a combination of port telemetry, gate logs, and human operator feedback.

First Commercial Use of Quantum-Inspired Logistics in a U.S. Port

This deployment marked the first live use of quantum-enhanced logistics software in a U.S. seaport terminal, with commercial-level throughput. It bridged the gap between laboratory R&D and field-deployable quantum-inspired decision engines.

SavantX CEO Ed Heinbockel noted that “even without full-scale quantum hardware, the mathematical techniques born out of quantum computing research can yield dramatic performance gains.”

Technology Transfer from Research to Port Operations

ColdQuanta’s involvement added scientific rigor to the modeling effort. Their contributions included:

• Validating QUBO formulations of scheduling problems

• Simulating performance gaps between classical and future quantum solutions

• Providing error metrics to benchmark heuristic quantum algorithms

This collaboration also allowed SavantX to future-proof its optimization platform, preparing it for eventual hardware acceleration using trapped-ion or cold atom quantum devices.

Strategic Relevance to Supply Chain Resilience

With global ports experiencing backlogs and unpredictable labor patterns, quantum-inspired logistics offer:

• Faster re-planning under terminal disruptions (e.g., weather, labor strikes)

• Better peak-load distribution, helping avoid yard bottlenecks

• Improved labor utilization, aligning with workforce availability and union rules

PASC and the Port of Los Angeles also saw this as part of a broader effort to digitize port infrastructure, aligning with U.S. Department of Transportation initiatives on smart port development.

Future Roadmap: Scaling to Other Terminals

Following the success at Pier 300, SavantX announced plans to:

• Scale the system to additional terminals within the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach

• Integrate with rail intermodal platforms for end-to-end cargo visibility

• Apply cold atom quantum hardware from ColdQuanta as their qubit systems mature

There is also interest in using quantum optimization to improve berth assignment planning, hazardous cargo segregation, and real-time risk mitigation for labor shortages.

Conclusion: Real-World Quantum Logistics Arrives at the Docks

The July 2021 milestone marked a turning point in quantum logistics—from theory to dockside application. With measurable gains in efficiency and throughput, the ColdQuanta–SavantX initiative showed that even early-stage quantum-inspired systems can deliver strategic value in complex logistics environments.

As more ports modernize and digitize, hybrid quantum-classical tools may become essential to navigating the rising demands of global trade.