Seaport Software & Technology Case Studies
atlantic pilotage authority
Customer Profile
The Atlantic Pilotage Authority (APA), established in 1972, is responsible for instituting, operating, maintaining, and administering efficient pilotage service within the designated waters of the Atlantic region. These waters span from east of Restigouche Harbour to the Bay of Exploits, and south of St. John's Harbour to the Port of Halifax. Marine pilotage involves directing and controlling the movement of vessels through near-shore and inshore waters, and providing navigation advice to ship masters. Pilots are expected to use knowledge of local geography, climate, and traffic patterns with operational information for safe passages. The Atlantic Pilotage Authority responds to the initiatives of the Minister of Transport. Its mandate is to establish, operate, maintain and administer, in the interest of safety, an efficient Pilotage service within the designated waters of the Atlantic region.
Business Situation
The Atlantic Pilotage Authority could not find an application that could help them in managing pilots and assignments, and enlisted the services of Nicom Maritime to work with them to develop a custom solution. Prior to Nicom Maritime's involvement, the dispatching of pilots was being performed by a variety of different organizations depending on the location of the port. At the time, there was only one computer in the APA office used for the financial system, and assorted personal computers for stand-alone productivity applications. The APA recognized the need to merge the dispatching operation by using a single organization, located centrally, in order to improve efficiency and dependability. This process involved implementing a wide range of different systems and technologies, and created the need for a computerized system to help with the dispatch operation. The APA realized it was essential to upgrade its IT infrastructure.
Solution
- Custom Software, Dispatching and Billing System (DABS)
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
- Systems Applications Products (SAP)
- Software Procurement
- Web Design
Benefits
With the many requirements unique to pilot dispatching and invoicing, the Atlantic Pilotage Authority benefited greatly from having these addressed through a custom developed application. The solution includes several web-based portals for pilots, agents and guests. The new system has proven to be a valuable tool for APA dispatchers, management and pilots, alike. The system manages the dispatching of pilots to inbound and outbound seafaring vessels all over Atlantic Canada. This is a daunting task for even the strictest disciplines, but DABS and DABSII have allowed the APA to not only keep pace with an ever-growing number of pilotage assignments, but also to better manage their resources and expenditures by streamlining the dispatching process. For example, through the web, dispatchers can see which ships are currently in the harbour and which are scheduled for arrival or departure. They also have live marine and land-based weather forecasts at their fingertips from Environment Canada. Agents can easily make a request for a pilot through a web page and the request is immediately entered into the APA dispatching system via the Internet. The pilots are able to view upcoming assignments, their rotating duty roster, and any special notes they require for their assignments. Pilots can then enter the particulars of a completed assignment through an online interface. The APA can bill for pilotage services based on tariffs established by Transport Canada.
Port of halifax
Customer Profile
The Port of Halifax is known for its location, facilities, services, and connection to locations around the world. The port is administered by the Halifax Port Authority (HPA), a successful Canadian federal organization with an international reputation for providing cost efficient and effective services, using the latest technologies. With seamless inter-modal connections to and from the heartland of North America, the Port of Halifax is Canada's Atlantic Gateway to the world. Halifax's strategic location, efficient infrastructure and unparalleled service have made it the preferred connection to Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia via the Suez Canal, providing comprehensive global coverage for exporters and importers.
Business Situation
The HPA has two state-of-the-art advanced container terminals that offer round-the-clock vessel service, and they process approximately 100,000 import containers annually. These containers are discharged and shipped to points across the continent; some by road and some by rail. With several parties involved, and frequent traffic, the HPA needed to work towards getting inbound containers out to customers quicker. In order to better provide clients with the information they need, the Halifax Port Authority wanted a secure, password-protected area on their website where clients could go to find what they need. The Port of Halifax also saw room for improvement in vessel and container dwell time. Because of this, the HPA needed better systems for tracking incoming/outgoing containers and vessels.
Benefits
The HPA is now able to address any gaps in service and prevent issues through daily tracking. The Vessel Traffic Management System has enabled the HPA to quickly address operational conflicts. The Container Tracking System (CTS) has improved efficiencies by providing an excellent means of analyzing the steps involved in inbound container processing with a focus on dwell time. Discharge lists are now submitted to the Halifax Port Authority in Electronic Data Interchange format via FTP and/or e-mail. Once event files are received, the CTS analyses the data, and transforms and merges the imported data to create a clear and distinct view of the containers arriving in the Port. This information includes discharge, ramp, depart, arrive, and re-ramp date and times. The CTS desktop application currently contains several statistical reports analyzing (empirically and graphically) the various container dwell times. The application also allows users to look up specific voyages/containers by specifying details such as container number.
The HPA is able to come through on its commitment to fast and efficient ship turnarounds which has strengthened its competitive position gaining the trust of more than 20 direct liner services.
maritime exchange for the delaware river & bay
Customer Profile
The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay is a trade association dedicated to promoting and protecting waterborne commerce within the Delaware River port community. Since 1875, the Exchange has been working to promote international commerce, protect trade, and enhance navigational safety in the Delaware River and Bay, the largest freshwater port in the world.
Business Situation
On behalf of its members, the Maritime Exchange developed its online suite of applications in the mid-1980s to capture and report on:
- Vessel movements
- Cargo manifests
- Customs and Border requirements, and
- Advanced arrival/departure schedules
The system underwent constant revision but had reached a point where it needed to be converted to newer a technology. The Maritime Exchange wanted to maintain its investment in the infrastructure and operating environment, and therefore sought a partner with experience both in the technology being employed and port systems.
Solution
- Web conversion of a pre-existing integrated suite of independent modules
- reporting module that enables users to run pre-defined or custom reports
Benefits
The new port logistics system serves the needs of the members of the Maritime Exchange, and makes use of modern technologies providing online access to information. By integrating client resources into the project, Nicom Maritime ensured the product’s immediate marketability.
saint john port authority
Customer Profile
The Saint John Port Authority (SJPA) oversees the day-to-day activities at the Port of Saint John, New Brunswick. The Port of Saint John, the largest seaport in New Brunswick, handles an average of 25 million metric tons of cargo annually and is one of Canada's key ports. It is recognized for its strategic importance to the nation's trade and economy, and is a critical infrastructure of the municipality and region providing close to 3,000 direct and indirect jobs. Thus, the port is a cornerstone of the Saint John community, a facilitator of international trade, and a part of Canada's transportation infrastructure, providing a marine gateway to global markets.
Business Situation
The computer systems used to manage daily activities, such as vessel scheduling and lease management, were limiting in both functionality and capability. After 20 years of using the same computer operating system, the SJPA decided to shop for a replacement. They needed a new system that provided a more secure and efficient way of operating the port and tracking revenue, maintaining the dues owed to the port from cargo carriers entering and exiting its waters.
Solution
- Custom Software, Port Operations & Revenue Tracking System (PORTS)
- Custom Billing System
- HAZMAT Permit Registration
Benefits
Data entry and invoicing have been streamlined, and a reporting feature has been provided that allows users to generate real-time analytical information for the first time. Detailed reports can now be easily created to suit the needs of various departments of the Saint John Port Authority. Vessel tracking and cargo manifest reporting has been designed to fit the port's specific needs, and the leasing/property management component of the system has been significantly improved. The final product provides an integrated vessel scheduling, billing, and lease management system, as well as a web-based hazardous goods certificate system. In partnering with Nicom Maritime, the SJPA has brightened its technological landscape by ensuring it will receive excellent service and support that will not only meet, but exceed, expectations in the years ahead.
barbados port authority
Customer Profile
The Barbados Port Authority (BPA) is a government agency which regulates shipping into the island. Established in 1979, it is a statutory body whose mandate is to plan, build, develop and maintain a high standard for the Barbados seaport.
Business Situation
The Government of Barbados commissioned a study of reform and expansion of the Bridgetown Port. Several working papers, issued as part of the study, concluded that the BPA required assistance with further development and implementation of its management information system (MIS). It was believed that information technology at the BPA that complemented important reform initiatives could help the port improve customer service, lower its cost profile, and, provide superior management systems. A number of issues had been identified, namely,
- the appropriateness of existing hardware and environmental software (LINC) as a platform for the future,
- the suitability of the Cargo Control and Tracking system, and ACCPAC General Ledger and Accounts Payable software,
- the application development environment,
- the introduction of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to communicate with shipping agents and companies, other ports, and Customs and Excise, and,
- how to best provide the BPA with an information technology tool to support cost and performance management initiatives being introduced as part of the reform program.
Nicom Maritime undertook a Management Information Systems Review.
Solution
- IT Consulting Services
- IT Strategic Planning / Operational Review
Benefits
The resultant information systems plan outlined a steady two year execution strategy, paralleling other port enhancement projects. The plan consisted of six inter-related sub-projects, each with a beginning and an end. These projects included on-site training and mentoring designed to equip MIS and user staff with the knowledge and experience to effectively use contemporary information technology. These sessions were introduced to improve training levels and, because of their structure, would have given participants the opportunity to practice under a mentorship program, easing the transition. The improved methodology would have introduced a new level of professionalism and discipline into the work of MIS and the user/department interface. In some cases, manual tasks would be eliminated and new activities added to support the new information systems. The proposed technology was built on the existing base with no change in the core hardware, saving the BPA additional monetary expenditures. The proposed plan moved the BPA towards a standard, more user-friendly graphical interface and a client server environment consistent with general information technology trends. Off-loading some of the work from the mainframe to the desktop within the client server technology, and using contemporary desktop tools, would help relieve some of the systems development load on MIS. To ensure this extensive work plan moved forward as smoothly and as timely as possible, the working paper recommended overall project supervision by consultants.
