Port Management System- The Most Efficient Way To Manage Ports & Terminals

Ocean freight shipping contributes to 80% of the world’s goods transportation. This makes maritime transport the backbone of the world’s economic growth. This backbone stands connected because of ports across the globe. Ports & terminals of the ports are hence the junctions for international trade of goods. In a worldwide network of goods transport, there are several challenges that come up to hinder the smooth transportation of goods and people across the ocean. To overcome these challenges port management systems are being used at several ports. But before we get into port management systems let us understand all the basics of ports & terminals.

What are Ports & Terminals? 

Ports are manmade hubs that connect land and water. They are used to facilitate the movement of people and goods through the ocean and provide for several functions that might be required for their efficient transportation. Ports are well equipped with cranes, forklifts, warehouses, and docks for cargo transportation via ships.  Classification of ports can be done in the following types: 

1. Seaports- near the seashore ports are called seaports. 

2. Inland ports- Ports on lakes, rivers, or canals, near the seaports for easy access to seaport facilities.

3. Fishing ports- These are exclusively for fishing activities whether commercial or recreational. 

4. Warm-water port- Ports where water does not freeze during winters and that are hence available for port functions throughout the year are called warm-water ports or ice-free ports.

5. Dry port- These are meant for intermodal transport via road or rail to the seaport and are functional in transporting cargo to inland destinations.

A smart port is a new terminology for ports enabled with IoT, AI, or other technology-enabled port functions. 

Terminals, on the other hand, are a part of seaports. Terminals allow for the loading and unloading of people and goods at a designated point on the port. They also act as a checkpoint for the custom clearance authorities. There can be several types of terminals based on the type of cargo transportation services available at the ports. These are terminals for the 

• unitized types of cargo like 

-break bulk for drums, pallets, etc, 

-neo bulk for paper, steel, etc, and 

-containerized cargo for containers.

• bulk cargo terminal for liquid or dry cargo carried loosely on ships. Petroleum, crude oil, coal, grain, iron ore, etc that are not unitized are called bulk cargo

• and passenger terminal/cruise home terminals for people and vehicles.

What are the Functions of Ports?

Ports are the gateway to a country's economic growth as they provide transportation of goods and people through the ocean route. Port terminal services provide no hindrance transportation through its

• Berthing and anchoring service for ships & vessels

• Mechanized control for loading, unloading, and storage of cargo

• Warehousing and packaging facilities for cargo

• Immigration, customs, health & medical facilities for people & cargo

• Security and safety of cargo and people

What is a Port Management System?

Integrating the processes for planning, execution, and management of the various functions at the ports requires great time, effort, and precise coordination amongst the various stakeholders. To ease out this process port management systems have been developed using various technologies. There are several port management systems based on IoT, cloud-based technology, AI, and blockchain. The main function of a port management system is to 

• Increase efficiency

• Improve employee productivity

• Provide data-based insights into all the port functions

• Facilitate smooth terminal operations

• Efficient port operations management

• Automation of port functions for better optimization of resources

Which ports across the world use Port Management Systems?

While this is just the beginning of a new era in maritime and ocean shipping, here is a list of automated ports across the globe so far:

1. Port of Barcelona

2. Port of Singapore

3. Port of Shanghai

4. Port of Rotterdam

5. Port of Hamburg

6. Port of Antwerp

7. Port Le Havre HAROPA

8. Port of Los Angeles

9. Copenhagen Malmo Port (CMP)

10. Port of Valencia

Conclusion

Technology is revolutionizing functions across the ports for better outputs. Highly efficient port management systems such as Cargoes ports & terminals suite of tech-based systems, designed by industry experts are facilitating the transformation of ports into smart ports. Initiatives by the governments to promote economic growth are pushing technological developments further and one can expect quick growth in the no. of ports & terminals turning towards port management systems for increasing their capacity and improving the efficiency of the current functions by manifolds.