Port management system

Large ports need to deal with a number of disparate activities: the movement of ships, containers and other cargo, the loading and unloading of ships and containers, customs activities. As well as human resources, anchorages, channels, lighters, tugs, berths, warehouse and other storage spaces have to be allocated and released. The efficient management of a port involves managing these activities and resources, managing the flows of money involved between the agents providing and using these resources, and providing management information.

Features: This system captures entire operations right from documentation to delivery it include features like registration of ship and vessels when they enter the port, then it creates and record a complete Pilot schedule and Berthing process of that particular ship, production of automated Invoice or a Rate Card with a record of all services offered to a vessel. The system then creates a dashboard to view entire marine operations with real time information.

Operations
Marine Operations Allows the user to effectively and efficiently manage Marine operations such as Anchorage, Pilotage, Berthing, Unberthing, It also caters to systemized management for vessel arrival or departure and movement status in the port, berth management, automatic invoice generation or calculation of port dues and services requested, etc. Cargo Operations Provides a solution for the smooth management of import and export process documentation and helps to plan, allocate, schedule, control and monitor all cargo operations to maximize their productivity and efficiency. The application captures the activities and functions of Gate, Warehouse and Rail. Vessel Operations It consists of documentation Vessel, Berth allocation and monitoring, recording and billing of services requested and finally preparation of vessel Dashboard. Vessel activities and cargo details are recorded and authorized users are able to input information directly to the system by a secure web interface. Information can also be sent in via email.

The berthing Tool gives a graphical view of the vessels and berths, providing the ability to accurately position vessels to specific berths. It also shows the identity and particulars of vessels at those locations.

Billing is calculation of services such as dockage, water, electricity, equipment usage, rents, delay penalties, storage and manpower time. System also manages customer specific commercial contract details.

Material Management: It consist of recording information like Vendor, Procurement Process, Purchasing & Invoicing, Inventory & Stores allocated and lists of goods Receipt or Issued or transferred. There are the main five types of materials namely Coal, Ore, Grain, Fertilizers and Oil and they also have further subdivisions. System also inform about hazards associated with the transport of certain materials.

Cargo & Logistics Management (CLMS): Ships are divided into different categories such as dry bulk cargo ships, general-purpose ships, liners and tankers, including Ore/Oil carriers. Tankers are sub-divide into several categories including carriers for crude-oil, petroleum products, chemicals, liquid gases, vegetable oils etc. each type needs different type of berth features, holds, hatches, derricks, winches, cranes and other cargo handling gear. The system helps in identifying that how particular ship types are allocated for the different cargoes and trade routes. When a vessel arrives firstly its Import / Export Documentation is done then different Warehouse shipping operations are suggested according to cargo types. Storage Planning is important and it also varies from ship to ship on the basis of material carriage.

Customs & EDI: In this step system records information regarding Importer / Exporter and what they are shipping. Data is configured into useful information like dockage, warehouses, services and rates which is transferred over the network. Both port managers and external users can access this information through a secure network. Some part of this info is also used by custom authorities or coast guards for checking ships and their materials.

Operations Resource Management (ORM): This feature assists in creation of Personnel Calendar which includes personnel deployment for port operations. Current practices in the deployment/assignment of workers include the following:

a. Rotation b. Per Work Schedule c. First-come/First-serve scheme

The majority of the ports make use of the first two schemes either exclusively or in combination. The third is practiced in certain ports in the Philippines and Indonesia.

ORM includes Labor Requisition/Allocation, Work Order Generation/Finalization/Approval and Equipment Requisition/Allocation/Recording. It record allocation of different cargo handling equipment, types and their costs.

Finance Management System: It is maintenance and recording of financial information in port operations, budgets, capital and revenue expenditures and investment appraisal. It includes the analysis and monitoring of costs and port cost accounting. This system helps in corporate analysis of financial data and for budgetary planning and control. This feature is used for Automated Invoicing/Billing of all services and charges for port operations of particular vessel. This system also performs bill adjustments if there any mistake in the bill. Furthermore this system also keeps records of customer service agreements and cash/bank transactions.

Rail Operations Management System: Some ports also have rail system for transportation of cargos from port to their destinations. Rail management activities include Rail documentation includes information of materials being transported and their destination. A Wagon (rail compartment) is allotted to goods according to their nature and route. Exchange Yard Operations are recorded at both loading and unloading of luggage. This is actually handing over of materials from one authority (port) to other (customer).

Administration & User Customization: A god port management system should be able provide complete port administration for Port authorities by covering and performing all port operations. It should have easy to use web interface. A User based Application & Setup Customizations is also required because port face different type of customers varying from single person to large multinational companies and there are different types of materials and cargo brought to port in different

type of ships and vessels. All of them need different services by type and amount which will lead to different amount of charges.

Usefulness of PMS: It helps in smooth management of vessel arrival/departure and cargo handlings by transferring and using information about vessel, cargo and port facilities via information network linking users. Preventing unexpected accidents by monitoring vessel movements (arrival/departure, Berthing) and port facilities management information. Enabling effective use of limited port facilities by providing port facilities management status information on a real-time basis. Increase users credibility on port operation by providing paperless administration by storing data electronically. Users do not need to visit the governmental organizations this is done automatically by fast port operation information services provided by PMS network.

References:
http://r0.unctad.org/trainfortrade/euframes/ptpen/M5b_demo_PM_v2007.pdf?id=2106 http://freedownload.is/pdf/modern-port-management-7349154.html