NEAA and Consortium Launch Groundbreaking Autonomous Logistics Project at the Port of Tyne
The North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA), the Port of Tyne, autonomous vehicle technology provider, Oxa, and cybersecurity provider, ANGOKA, are among the organisations to have secured Government funding to help develop and deploy world-leading Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) solutions in the UK.
Through the CAM Pathfinder – Enhancements programme, the NEAA and a consortium of partners will deliver P-CAL (Port-Connected and Automated Logistics), a pioneering project set to demonstrate autonomous container transport at the Port of Tyne.
The CAM Pathfinder – Enhancements programme is funded by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), a joint unit between the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Transport (DfT), delivered in partnership with Innovate UK and Zenzic.
The programme is part of the £150 million CAM Pathfinder initiative announced in the UK Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, which aims to address the complexities in commercialising CAM vehicles, to support and grow the UK’s CAM supply chain and ready the market for CAM services, enhancing both investment and export opportunities.
Building on the success of the 5G CAL and V-CAL initiatives previously supported by UK Government, P-CAL marks a significant leap forward in connected and automated logistics for UK ports.
This multi-million-pound initiative will deploy a fully autonomous terminal tractor and secure mesh communication network to move containers between the dockside and the container compound, creating a UK first in waterside port automation.
P-CAL operates within a new and complex Operational Design Domain (ODD), tackling the challenges of a high-traffic, dynamic quayside environment. These include real-time coordination with cranes, seamless integration with Terminal Operating Systems and robust cybersecurity for safe, remote operations.
The project is being delivered by the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA), the Port of Tyne, Oxa, Nissan, Newcastle University, ANGOKA, Vantec Europe, BP and Womble Bond Dickinson, bringing together deep expertise in automation, cybersecurity, logistics, and legal compliance.
Paul Butler, CEO at the NEAA, said: “P-CAL addresses the unique demands of quayside operations, where vehicles must coordinate precisely with cranes and navigate a constantly changing environment.
“This moves beyond our previous work into a completely new operational setting. With a focus on innovation, collaboration and environmental responsibility, this project will showcase the future of freight logistics.”
Running over nine months, the project aims to demonstrate a scalable, safe, and commercially viable autonomous logistics solution that supports the UK’s Net Zero goals while enhancing efficiency and safety. It is expected to reduce costs, create skilled jobs and lay the groundwork for wider adoption of autonomous logistics across UK ports and distribution centres.
Gavin Jackson, CEO at Oxa, said: “The P-CAL project is a prime example of Industrial Mobility Automation in action. What we're showcasing here - safely automating complex container movements in a dynamic port environment - will act as a blueprint for port terminals in the UK and beyond. We believe this initiative offers a compelling vision for how autonomous technology will continue to optimise logistics - enhancing reliability and efficiency and improving operational safety globally.”
Matt Beeton, CEO at the Port of Tyne, said: “The P-CAL project cements the North East’s position as a driving force in industrial innovation. By deploying autonomous logistics in a live port environment, we’re not only enhancing safety and operational performance, but we are also shaping the future of the sector.
“We’re proud that the Port of Tyne is leading the work with our key partners and proving what’s possible for ports across the UK and beyond.”
Shadi AR, CTO at ANGOKA, said: “We are excited about the advances the P-CAL project will introduce to the world of Industrial Mobility Automation. ANGOKA will be showcasing the world’s first-of-its-kind purpose-built quantum safe and secure digital infrastructure and mesh communication network for industrial and logistic automation.
“P-CAL will pioneer cost-effective, sustainable, and cyber-resilient industrial and logistics automation within ports and industrial parks."
Mark Cracknell, Programme Director at Zenzic, said: “It’s fantastic to see industry and government working together to ensure the UK is best placed to seize the CAM opportunity.
“From aviation to logistics and public transport, the programme will provide the funding and support required to help some of the nation’s brightest minds develop the technologies that will cement CAM as one of the industries of the future, creating high-skilled jobs and providing a major boost to the UK economy.”
(Pictured: One of three Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) Terberg tractor units purchased by Vantec Europe for the V-CAL project)
