An ordinary day in a port requires loads of information about maritime traffic, environment, cargo, personnel, and physical assets. All information needs to be synchronized to port’s operations so that everyone has the valid information at the right time to do their work in the most efficient way. Efficiency in operations means saving both money and environment, hence it is the goal in every port from the biggest international transportation hubs to smaller local harbors. In this article we describe the types of information needed in ports and how to harness the information to serve the core function of ports.
Port’s physical assets ensure the safe maritime operations
Maritime transportation is an environmentally sustainable way to transport goods, as there are less emissions per cargo ton than in other means of transport. The maritime trade is expected to rise despite the gap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as stated in the latest Review of Maritime Transport by UNCTAD. The interface between maritime and land transportation is in the core of port’s operations, and the infrastructure plays an important role in it.
Information on port’s assets, whether it is about the safety of quays or availability of storage space, needs to be up-to-date and easily available. Good planning of cargo transportation reduces the resources needed and emissions created. The locations of storage areas, shortest ways for trucks and information on assets’ attributes such as quay’s bearing capacity are all important information for the port crew to provide the best service to their stakeholders, and to handle the growing amount of cargo efficiently.
Some parts of the information may be needed on a daily basis, some less frequently. If you can reduce the time needed in finding the information, the multiplication can make a huge effect on time and money saving!
Port’s value chain is all about cooperation
A port community includes stakeholders from different parts of logistics chain as well as port service providers. The communication between port’s own organization, its clients and contractors must be efficient to ensure the client satisfaction and continuous operations.
Vitsounis and Pallis describe in their research paper how port stakeholders co-create value to their clients. They state that integration of different port actors in the value chain can bring competitive advantage to a port. To reach that goal it is important to improve the means of communication, which nowadays often comes with digitalizing the processes to ease the information flow.
Adding value to shippers as the port’s clients may require enabling of digital custom procedures or synchronizing port services to shorten the time spent in a port, for example. The port crew and all the outsourced services need to be on the same page and receive the information needed to do their work in a timely manner.
On a mission for improved communication in ports
We at GISGRO want to be a part of ports’ path to more efficient ways of working. Via digital platforms the information moves easier and faster to all necessary stakeholders. This creates more value to the clients and the port as well by improving communication and hence also processes. Imagine what you could do with all the spared time if you wouldn’t need to hunt information!
If you want to discuss how to digitize information flows in more detail, contact our specialist via phone or email, or book an online meeting at a time suitable for you.
Ville Mäkeläinen
CDBO
+358 44 513 2222
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