The Eastern Living Lab team, spearheaded by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), joined forces with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations (CEEBA) as partners of the TECHLOG project in organizing the 2nd round of roundtable discussions aimed at co-designing and validating Technology Transfer and Innovation Initiatives focusing on safety. The initiative brought together key stakeholders from both public and private transportation and port cargo handling sectors, including truck drivers, crane operators, and reach stacker/forklift operators.

The primary objective of these roundtable discussions was to identify the specific safety needs and preferences of various stakeholders within the transportation and port cargo handling industries. Building upon the insights gathered during the initial roundtable discussions held in March during the Egyptian Eastern Living Lab launch event, the team sought to further co-design and validate the outcomes to enhance safety measures and operations.

These outcomes will play a pivotal role in the upcoming Egyptian pilot actions, which will take the form of a comprehensive simulation training program for gantry crane operators, truck drivers, and reach stacker/forklift operators. This program is scheduled to commence in October 2023, with the goal of significantly enhancing safety in these critical roles.

The recent discussions took place virtually via ZOOM on Sunday, October 1st. The sessions were structured to address the specific needs of different stakeholders within the industry. The discussions for trucking companies, involving truck drivers and reach stacker/forklift operators training, took place at 11:00 am. Subsequently, at 12:30 pm, discussions centered around cargo handling companies, with a focus on gantry crane operators training. Each session lasted for one hour, providing ample time for participants to engage and share their insights.

During these discussions, participants from various stakeholder companies reaffirmed the findings and conclusions reached during the prior roundtable sessions held in March during the Egyptian Eastern Living Lab launch event. Key topics such as safety, fatigue management, productivity enhancement, and eco-driving practices were once again at the forefront of the discussions. 

Moreover, participants collectively underscored that, within the Egyptian context, safety stands out as the paramount criterion that training modules must emphasize. Additionally, discussions shed light on the specific specifications of the training protocol, which will be implemented as part of the pilot actions. This includes defining safety key performance indicators, as well as taking into account various conditions and factors that impact safety in these critical roles.

The Eastern Living Lab team remains committed to enhancing safety in transportation and port operations, and the insights garnered from these collaborative discussions will play a vital role in achieving this goal. As the October 2023 pilot training program approaches, anticipation is high for the positive impact it will have on the industry's safety standards and practices.