Container terminal operation method

A container terminal operation method for a container terminal including a vertical storage area in which a storage block is arranged with a traveling lane from a quay wall toward land, the container terminal operation method comprising:

• causing a container conveying vehicle to travel along a loop that includes
• a lateral side along a longitudinal direction of the storage block,
• an area closer to the land than an end of the storage block closest to the land, and
• an apron;
• and
• handing a container over between the storage block and the container conveying vehicle on the lateral side, wherein
• a first handover area of the container between the container conveying vehicle and an external vehicle is in the area closer to the land and a second handover area of the container between the container conveying vehicle and a ship is in the apron,
• a one-way external traveling lane for the external vehicle is from an entrance to an exit of the container terminal and passes through the first handover area,
• handover of the container in the first handover area occurs where both the container conveying vehicle and the external vehicle travel in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the storage block;
• and
• the loop includes positions for the container conveying vehicle to perform handover of the container to or from each of the external vehicle, the storage block and the ship while traveling along the loop a single time.