The operation process is one of the important contents of container terminal’s planning and design.According to the development of advanced container terminal operation system,we discuss the AGV ALV automation of the container terminal handling system,the spacing rail automatic container terminal system and the layout.We analyze the handling operation performance,including the operation efficiency and the equipment utilization by simulation,discuss a new-type handling systems of automated container terminal,i.e.the viaduct type,and make a comparison of these advanced container terminal operation systems.The research result may serve as reference for the container terminal operation process design and optimization.