Inland services and the role of IT systems
• Whether domestic or international, every commercial shipment requires certain supporting documents, such as bills of lading, manifests and other shipping papers.
• Information technology has greatly improved the accuracy of shipping data and the speed with which this information is transacted among different trade and transport partners.
• But the role of information technology does not stop at facilitating the transfer and exchange of shipping transactions, but goes further to include navigation equipment (ECDIS, VTS, GMDSS, INMARSAT, etc.) and a range of business applications (bar-coding, smart cards, e-commerce, etc.).
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| VTS |
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| INMARSAT |
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| GMDSS |
Why We Need Technology?
Problems and Key Challenges
• Greater internal operational efficiency
• Difficulties of integration with the land networks
• Difficulties of integration with the global logistics networks and transport chains (different standards, lack of data exchange & interoperability, lack of “neutral” layers, business practices)
• Difficulties of integration between the port value system (stakeholders) due to:
–Different levels of IT penetration
–Low compatibility of IT systems used
–Lack of systems integration.
REASON :
Improving the current “global Architectures” for the collection, transmission, and utilization of data and information for the operation of a port within global transportation and supply chain management.
Improving load utitization and “smart boxes” for containers so that they become more power savvy, “intelligent”, and less costly, together with new innovative methods for data capture and transmission.
Improving the internal port operation through IT efficiency coupled to new organisational models and processes, economies of scale and cost reduction
Improving the internal port operation through legal and administrative amplification while meeting the security and customs requirements (one-stop-shop, secure container green lanes, simplification of customs procedures through international accords and conventions).
Technologies used
Software
• –EDIFACT
• –XML
• –Web services
• –GIS/GIS over web
Hardware
• –(D)GPS
• –RFID
• –Barcode
• –Smart card readers
• –CCTV
• –Handheld devices
• –On-board units
Communications
–GPRS/WLAN
–Security
• ECDIS
• VTS
• GMDSS
• INMARSAT
• Bar-coding
• Smart cards
• E-commerce
In container Terminal
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| Container Terminal |
• Integrated Terminal planning and monitoring system
• Modular architecture
• Combines state-of-the-art technologies for data gathering and transmission in order to enhance Terminal productivity and performance, and increase security and cost-effectiveness
• The rail industry has been the leader in creating standardized systems (e.g. interactive tags and readers) to track and monitor rail equipment and vehicles.
• On the other hand, the complex nature of their market, and the fact that they do not operate on fixed routes, road hauliers use a wider variety of technologies (satellite, cellular, microwave, etc.)
• Satellite,
• Cellular,
• Microwave
• Interactive tags and readers
• The use of satellites allows carriers to pinpoint the location of the truck and relay this information to the customer.
• Freight road users also use a computing and communications system known as Telematics to promote the development and implementation of more efficient and safer transport.
• Typical examples of such technology include smart card ticketing, electronic tolling systems, and on-board vehicle information and navigation systems
• Smart card ticketing
• Electronic tolling systems
• On-board vehicle information and navigation systems
• The intermodal system is probably the most information-intensive, since technology is used to integrate every component of the intermodal transport into one cohesive system.
• Compatibility among the different transport modes is achieved through standard systems such as EDI for Administration, Commerce and Transport (EDIFACT), and the Automated Broker and Manifest Systems.
• EDI for Administration
• Commerce and Transport (EDIFACT)
• Automated Broker and Manifest Systems
Innovation / Technology challenges
• Need to further pursue global standards so that data and systems are interoperable and open to all “actors” worldwide.
• Need to establish a global “framework architecture” (Service Oriented Architecture –SOA).
• Energy-efficiency and reliability issues for the equipment used (mainly in terms of the power supply for container monitoring devices and communication range).
• Intelligent use of available information and data.
• Need to further extend global uniform standards and rules for tracking the containers and the state of their contents all along the chain from door-to-door.
• Ability tore-schedule based on dynamic information and data.
Commercial & market problems
• Finding solutions which are not “industry” driven, but “market” driven.
• Integrating the intermodal (container) transport planning systems with the commercial environment of finding and concluding the business.
• Understanding better the various commercial characteristics of container line-haul and cargo handling operations.
Business / Organisational issues
• Further standardising the commercial or market related information in the container transport trade (e-documentation, and e-business transactions).
• The transport of containers is not sufficiently transparent
• Traditional business models do not correspond to the new ICT applications.
• Legal / Security problems
• –A large portion (approximately 50%-70%) of the containers that are inspected in both the United States as well as in Europe are inspected randomly –no risk profiling.
• –The documentation that declares what is in a container is not always correct.
• –Need to further standardise containers.
• –Container seals should be applied in a standard way.
• –Liability issues regarding the damage and/or interruption of the door-to-door supply chain.
• –Alignment with the new security rules and regulations.
