Port Community System News

Siloed data systems represent a “recipe for duplicative and multiplicative cost inside a company and across companies”, an OrbitMI-hosted panel at the recent Shipping Insight event in the US was told, as a Bureau Veritas-backed study highlighted this as a big barrier to data collaboration for digitalization of shipping to cut emissions.Vast amounts of data are generated from ship operations - such as from sensors onboard or vessel performance management systems - as well as from…

International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Facilitation Committee addresses the efficiency of shipping by dealing with all matters related to the facilitation of international maritime traffic, including the arrival, stay and departure of ships, persons and cargo from ports.The Committee is meeting for its 43rd session (8-12 April), coinciding with the entry into effect of new requires for all public authorities to introduce electronic exchange of information between ships and ports.Alongside other agenda items, the Committee is expected to continue its ongoing work on harmonization and standardization of electronic messages and develop…

The cooperating sector organisations in Dutch ports together with PortBase launched the campaign website www.getreadyforbrexit.eu that guides companies quickly through Dutch ports.According to a release from the Port of Rotterdam Authority, this enables exporters, importers and their logistics service providers to see at a glance what they need to do to transport their cargo quickly to the United Kingdom after Brexit.The website focuses on informing and activating parties in the logistic chain, such as importers, exporters, carriers and freight forwarders. ‘Client journeys’ have been established per target group to show step-by-step…

France-based Port Community System operator SOGET, in close collaboration with French customs, port authorities, ferry companies and road hauliers, will offer an integrated e-freight corridor based on a digitalized anticipation of information flows related to cross-Channel goods."Cross-channel RO-RO traffic of trucks and its logistics’ fluidity in ports are crucial matters for the competitiveness of the Great-Britain - Europe corridor. With 5 million trucks on the coastal border territory, the current port infrastructure cannot deal with a new logistics border," said a press release from the Le Havre headquartered public-private partnership between the Port Community of Le Havre…

Abu Dhabi Ports subsidiary Maqta Gateway said that it is to carry out its first testing of international blockchain solution Silsal with a maritime operator in partnership with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, a global leader in shipping and logistics.Silsal provides a seamless and secure link between stakeholders across the trade community using the electronic ledger system.As a major carrier, MSC will provide vital information and feedback on the international pilot project, which will test the capabilities of the technology to exchange, identify, and acknowledge cargo documents and certificates between Abu Dhabi Ports and other ports.Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi…

Indian Ports Association (IPA) has appointed Tech Mahindra as the Managed Service Provider for five major ports. This is the first such outsourcing deal in the major ports.Tech Mahindra will build and maintain an enterprise business system (EBS) to modernise and automate port processes at five Central government-owned port  at Mumbai ,Kolkata, Chennai, Deendayal Port  and Paradip Port Trust.This initiative is a major step towards integrating the maritime sector and fostering growth and development of major public sector ports in the country.Tech Mahindra is partnering with world class leading players like SAP, Envision, CISCO, Dell, RTCom and other major players.

Standardization and harmonization are essential in order to achieve efficient shipping and seamless transport, particularly when it comes to electronic data exchange. International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Facilitation Committee, which is meeting (5-8 June) at IMO Headquarters, is set to approve a revised format of the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business, including a completely revised and updated standard IMO data model set. Data models define and format information which might be transferred between automated systems, such as for export, import and transit. The revised Compendium will include a completely revised data structure, including digitalization-friendly definitions of all the information elements that a ship is required to report.

The leading Port Community System operator in France SOGET appointed Hervé Cornède as the Executive Director of the company. Hervé Cornède was appointed as the Commercial Director of the port of Le Havre in September 2009 and then Commercial and Marketing Director for HAROPA, when the EIG (Economic interest group) was created on January 1st, 2013. He worked for the first-rank positioning of the shipping offering of HAROPA ports, for the development of their terminals and the attractiveness of their logistics zones, thus allowing the ports of the river Seine to pass the historic mark of the 3 million TEU. Hervé Cornède placed its action in the momentum of Le Havre…

Port of Oakland officials has promised a digital shipping platform by mid-year to speed up global trade flows. The Port said it’s building an online portal for transactions that range from tracking to transporting containerized cargo. The move aligns with an industry migration toward digitalization of international supply chains for the sake of efficiency. The Port previewed its portal - called a digital collaboration platform - at an American Association of Port Authorities meeting in Oakland. Port officials said it would provide a single window for cargo owners or freight haulers who want to: Get personalized cargo status updates; Check ocean vessel schedules; Pay freight-handling fees; or Make appointments to pick up containerized cargo.

Trade infrastructure development to diversify Panama’s economy and DP World’s international experience in over 40 countries were at the centre of discussions held in Dubai yesterday between the global trade enabler’s Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem and Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela. As part of his visit, Mr. Varela was taken on a tour of DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone, including Terminal 3, which is among the world’s most productive and technologically advanced, employing surveillance drones and remote-controlled quay cranes that are operated from the safety and comfort of a control room. A presentation was also delivered on the role that DP World plays in enabling customers to manage the complexities and cut costs in the global supply chain…

Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company outside oil and gas, has signed a long-term port facility agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports to use some of the world’s largest bulk cargo vessels to import raw materials through Khalifa Port. With this agreement, Abu Dhabi Ports will be able to develop the port to become the first in the Gulf capable of directly handling these massive ships. Abu Dhabi Ports will fund and complete dredging and widening works to the Khalifa Port approach channel and basin including EGA’s berth. The dredging will deepen the channel to 18.5 metres and basin to 18.0 metres basis zero tide. EGA plans to use large dry bulk ships to import raw materials without the need to transfer all or some of the cargo to smaller vessels outside the port…

Construction is complete on weighbridges at the port of Liverpool to help cargo owners comply with the new SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) international regulations on container weights. The multi-lane, in-process capability involved considerable work to install multiple dynamic axle weighbridges at the terminal AutoGates. It is linked with the terminal operating system and is able to automatically provide a verified gross mass (VGM) record for the container. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has set the date of  July 1…

Directorate General of Shipping will issue guidelines for the Safety of Life at Sea Convention  (SOLAS)  convention on container weight verification next week, said Deepak Shetty, Director General of Shipping, Government of India yesterday in Mumbai. “By July 1, 2016, we have to put the regulation in place and the file has come to our table and the circular will be issued by Monday or Tuesday. We will be one of the first few countries on a task as daunting as this,” Shetty said delivering his key note address at a conference on `Ease of doing business’ organised by Mumbai and Nhava Sheva Ship Agents Association. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has amended SOLAS that seeks verification of container weight and holds the shipper responsible for it effective July 1, 2016.

Press release- A month after celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Marseille-based Port Community System operator MGI has been welcomed as the newest member of the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA). MGI (Marseille Gyptis International) becomes IPCSA's 28th member and the association's second member based in France. “Nearly 30 ports in France and overseas have implemented the Cargo Community System AP+, MGI‟s and SOGET‟s flagship product since 2005 – including Mauritius, Benin, Togo and New Caledonia. Coinciding with its 30th anniversary in December 2015, MGI launched Ci5 (Cargo intelligence 5), its new flagship software solution designed to succeed and build on AP+.

Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone in the Emirate, has started initial trial operations of its Port Community System, ‘Maqta Gateway’, following the successful completion of Stage1 of the overall project development. Maqta Gateway, the first purpose built Port Community System (PCS) in the Emirates, now offers shipping lines, shipping agents, customs agents, terminal operators and other government agencies a single point-of-access and real-time information across a wide range of services. Maqta Gateway, designed in line with international standards, can be accessed via any online device offering its users an optimal experience through enhanced business processes and greater transparency.

An electronic port community system to make all trading transactions paperless in Algerian ports based on the Dubai Trade portal has been unveiled at a major seminar in Dubai on investment opportunities in the country. The new system will be introduced under a joint venture agreement signed today between DP World, Dubai Trade, the ports of Algiers, Oran and Skikda, offering integrated electronic services from various trade and logistics service providers under a single window. Over 100 investors and business leaders attended the “Investing In Transports and Logistics in Algeria: Opportunities and Challenges” seminar, the first of its…

NSW Ports has successfully deployed Advent’s eModal wharfage module for Port Botany in Sydney and Port Kembla in Wollongong, says Advent Intermodal Solutions, a leading provider of IT-based intermodal solutions. The wharfage solution is part of eModal’s Port Community System (PCS) solutions suite. The SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) implementation is part of NSW Ports’ comprehensive plan to transition port operations from legacy IT systems to a new IT environment where Advent’s plug ‘n play, SaaS-based, eModal wharfage module complements NSW Ports’ plan. NSW Ports is a privately owned company that developed the plan when in 2013 it acquired through public tender a 99-year lease to manage and develop Port Botany and the Port Kembla port assets from the NSW Government.

Port of Antwerp has launched breakbulk application for more efficient freight handling. Antwerp has long been the breakbulk port par excellence in Europe. This status finds expression each day anew in a flexible range of high-quality services tailored to the requirements of the customer. Already several years ago the sector pointed out the need to automate the breakbulk process in order to provide customers with even better service. The Antwerp Port Community System (APCS) has now met this requirement with a new breakbulk application that will make today’s copying and re-copying of data a thing of the past. The result is more transparent, faster communication concerning cargoes, enabling them to be handled even more efficiently. How does it work?

The agro-industrial concern Cargill has won the 5th Port Community Award. The agro-industrial concern with branches in Amsterdam and Rotterdam also won a prize in the category shipping companies/ship’s agents/agents during the festive awards ceremony. Other prize winners were Ritra Cargo Holland (category freight forwarders/exporters/importers), APM Terminals Maasvlakte ll and RWG (category terminals/hinterland terminals) and Frankenbach from Germany (category hinterland carriers). The Port Community Award rewards the company that distinguishes itself most in its exchange of information via the Port Community System of the Dutch ports. This exchange of information is becoming increasingly important for the ports and the port business community.

The port of Antwerp has planned a Roadshow in India as this country has generated a record 5 million tonnes of cargo in Antwerp in 2014. The roadshow has been programmed from 9 to 13 February 2015. With an annual freight volume of 199 million tonnes the port of Antwerp is the second-largest in Europe. Its central location in the heart of Europe makes it possible to serve a huge consumer market very quickly: an essential advantage for exporting countries that target the European consumer. To help convince such countries of the unique position occupied by Antwerp in the European port landscape, the Antwerp port community regularly organises missions abroad. The port of Antwerp has long been convinced of the economic growth potential of India.

Commissioner William P. Doyle's remarks at the Commission Briefing on Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Port Congestion Forum, November 13 2014 in Baltimore, MD. On October 1, 2014, Commissioner Lidinsky and I hosted the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Port Congestion Forum at the World Trade Center in Baltimore, Maryland. I want to thank all the FMC staff for their participation in setting up and managing the day’s event. David Tubman and Jewel Jennings-Wright worked tirelessly for weeks helping to locate attendees and participants. Thank you both.

ICO and AET, the two ro/ro terminals in the port of Antwerp, are now also connected to the e-Desk. The Antwerp Port Community System (APCS) introduced the e-Desk for containers already in 2012, and this year the successful collaboration has been extended to rolling stock. The port of Zeebrugge (ICO and WWL) started the e-Desk for ro/ro in February, and now the Antwerp terminals are following suit. All exports of new and second-hand vehicles and exports or transit of containers can now be declared electronically, so that paper declarations and accompanying documents are no longer necessary. Each player who has four obligatory data items that form part of the export declaration can enter these parameters in the e-Desk.

New president John Cushing’s role gives him responsibility for PierPass programs to relieve congestion and improve air quality at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. He takes over the role of president from Bruce Wargo, who has led PierPass since its founding in 2004 and remains CEO. “John’s leadership in services for terminal operators, trucking companies and cargo owners, along with his experience developing and managing a new international container terminal, put PierPass and the OffPeak Program in able hands,” Mr. Wargo said. Mr. Wargo has taken on the additional role of PierPass board chairman. Under the OffPeak program, the 13 international container terminals at the two adjacent ports operate additional shifts on nights and Saturdays.