Changsha Port has officially launched a new drone-based seal application model, marking a significant step forward in the digitalization of cross-border logistics operations.

The first "zone-port linkage" drone seal application project in Hunan Province was officially launched on September 30 at the Changsha Zhongnan Consolidation Center, with a live container verification completed on-site. This milestone signals the start of a new operational model for seal application at Changsha Port.

Where the innovation begins

The project moves customs seal application operations from the checkpoint to the container yard itself, directly at the container slot. This shift is designed to further improve cargo consolidation efficiency and reduce overall social logistics costs.

Seal application is a critical regulatory step in cross-border container clearance. After goods are loaded, a dedicated customs lock is attached and recorded into the regulatory system, effectively preventing unauthorized opening or swapping during transport and ensuring the safety and traceability of cross-border logistics.

How the system works

On September 30, inside the customs supervision area of the Changsha Zhongnan Consolidation Center, a drone equipped with an electronic customs lock reader lifted off and flew steadily to a designated container slot in the yard to complete remote seal application. Once sealing was done, the system automatically initiated an arrival declaration, achieving full digitalization from the issuance of the operational command to the receipt of the arrival confirmation.

The project was jointly developed by Sinotrans and China Merchants Transportation Science and Technology Institute, with support from China Merchants Group, Changsha and Xingsha Customs, and port authorities at both the provincial and municipal levels in Hunan.

Grounded in the needs of Changsha's smart port development, the project innovatively integrates drone flight control, visual large-model technology, and customs supervision operations. It transforms the traditional port seal application process, shifting the operational model from "containers moving to the checkpoint to find the reader" to "drones flying to the container slot to find the box."

Why the old process needed to change

Previously, after export consolidated cargo was loaded, containers had to be transported to the checkpoint to complete seal application and arrival declaration procedures. Seal application was confined to the checkpoint, and arrival declarations relied on manual operations. During peak periods, large numbers of vehicles queued at the checkpoint, affecting clearance efficiency.

With the new project in place, the Sinotrans international consolidation business system monitors loading progress in real time and automatically dispatches drone seal application tasks. After the drone reaches the target container, its onboard camera uses a visual large model to automatically identify and verify the container number and slot information. Once confirmed, the electronic customs lock is sealed.

At the same time, the system automatically submits the arrival declaration to Xingsha Customs. The receipt is quickly returned through the Changsha single window, enabling real-time sharing of operational data between Xingsha Customs and the terminal system.

Benefits for businesses and workers

Once goods are loaded, sealing can be completed on the spot. Foreign trade enterprises can view operational progress in real time, benefiting from less queuing, faster clearance, and full traceability throughout the process. The burden on frontline workers is significantly reduced.

Vehicles no longer need to idle for extended periods, leading to a noticeable reduction in exhaust emissions. This supports green and low-carbon development while improving clearance efficiency.

Safety and reliability measures

While improving efficiency, the project builds a strong safety defense around three key elements: finding the right container, sealing it properly, and ensuring data connectivity. Relying on the visual large model to automatically identify and verify container numbers and slots, it avoids mis-sealing and erroneous sealing, with an electronic customs lock recognition accuracy rate of 99.8%.

By connecting customs, port platform, and terminal business systems, all operational data exchanges are completed within three minutes, with operations traceable and auditable. For emergencies such as network or power outages, severe weather, or lock abnormalities, the project includes contingency plans such as mobile emergency operations, offline operations, three-dimensional electronic fencing, and multi-sensor redundant protection, providing dual safeguards for regulatory continuity and operational safety.

Supporting Hunan's export economy

As an important supporting facility for the China-Europe Railway Express (Changsha), the smart upgrade of the Zhongnan Consolidation Center precisely empowers small, medium, and micro foreign trade enterprises in Hunan to go global. By streamlining operational steps, shortening clearance times, and reducing logistics costs, it further strengthens the core competitiveness of the Changsha international rail service and supports the high-quality development of Hunan's export-oriented economy.