Automatic rail mounted gantry crane(ARMG)and automatic rubber-tyred gantry crane(ARTG)are the two main development directions of equipment in the automatic terminal yard. To tease systematically the technical problems of transformation from traditional terminals to automatic terminals and steer accurately the development direction of terminal automation, the renovation projects of ARMG and ARTG were carried out tentatively in part areas of two traditional container terminal yards in Shanghai Port. Based on the actual operating data of the renovation projects, the current situation and development trend of technology for the ARMG and ARTG are analyzed systematically and the adaptive conditions of the ARMG and ARTG modes to the port environment are studied. The result may serve as theoretical reference for the transformation of traditional container terminals to automated container terminals.