E-SMART provides immediate visualisation of equipment status and plant faults. The system uses large clear icons on a full screen display allowing the supervisory staff to quickly identify any issues resulting in remedial action without delay or confusion. E-SMART also provides statistics for KPIs such as, equipment availability and outages, and can be used to trend and identify repeat issues and monitor performance. Management dashboards are provided allowing key staff and managers across the terminal to view the live status of the equipment and the equipment history.

Richard Lambert, Managing Director, International Terminal Solutions  commented ” E-SMART provides terrific benefits and rapid return on investment in the stand alone server based format,  however some of our customers want to go one step further with reporting directly from the mobile equipment. Previously these customers running the E-SMART remote communication module were limited to the areas covered by a WiFi network.  Now with the GPRS module the system can run in wider sites or across sites where the customer has multiple operations or sites. Liverpool is an ideal Port for us to test the GPRS module because as well as operating in the container terminal, several of the cargo handling vehicles operate in the 1,200 acres of operational docks and outside the coverage of the container terminal WiFi network”

E-SMART provides a good platform to share information between the operations and maintenance functions allowing the operations staff to see at a glance what equipment can be used for operations, and when additional equipment is available following service work.

Richard Lambert went on to say “This GPRS communication module is just one of many planned stages on our E-SMART development. It will allow a broader range of Port operations to have full visibility of their equipment’s live operational status”

The REL is a service enhancement at the MICT, which allows truckers faster access into the terminal.  The new lane also helps in the fast delivery of reefer containers to their end destinations.

“We continously look for ways to improve services for our clients.  Through the implementation of the reefer express lane, we have been able to address our clients’ specific needs.  The opening of the new express lane is part of ICTSI’s commitment to provide clients flexible solutions that adapt to the dynamic market landscape of reefer container handling,” says Aurelio Garcia, MICT terminal manager.

“Trucks with single transactions will be able to take advantage of a dedicated reefer express lane by getting inside the terminal without joining the regular truck queues.  This service has been launched in time for the holidays to support terminal operations during the peak season,” he adds.

Aside from faster access into the terminal, the lane helps ease the flow of traffic by spreading out the movement of trucks into the terminal and off the main public roads in the Port of Manila.  

For truckers to avail of the REL, the consignee or broker should request for a reefer signage.  The signage is a special identification pass to be placed in the truck’s windshield.  The special pass is at no cost to the client.

To request for a reefer signage, consignees and brokers may contact telephone number (63 2) 245 4101 local 2512 or personally request any of the tellers at the MICT Billing Center.  However, only gate passes with clear or no pending transactions will be allowed to go inside the terminal.  

Brokers should ensure that documentation and payment are completed before advising truckers to pick up the reefer containers.  Brokers must provide both the reefer signage and gate pass to their trucker prior to entry into MICT.

Truckers will pass through the MICT South Access Road and proceed to Lane 7 of the West Gate for their single entry reefer withdrawal transaction.  Normal gate and yard processes will continue including customs inspection.  The express lane is available Monday to Friday from seven o’clock in the morning to seven o’clock in the evening.

ICTSI is a leading port management company involved in the operations and development of 22 marine terminals and port projects in 17 countries worldwide. The company was among the first international terminal operators to take its expertise overseas. # # #

(Photo shows a truck with a reefer express lane special pass entering the Manila International Container Terminal through Lane 7 of the West Gate of the terminal.)

These new roles are designed to further emphasise PD Ports’ growth strategy and to continuously reinvigorate the business’s commercial activities and seek new opportunities in existing and emerging markets. Rob’s remit is to lead the business development teams across all elements of PD Ports’ logistics activities, with an initial focus on portcentric and contract logistics. Rob, who is based at Felixstowe, will report to Business Development Director, Geoff Lippitt, and will work closely with the existing logistics management teams to significantly expand further opportunities for growth. From Felixstowe, Rob joins PD Ports from DHL International Supply Chain where he was UK Business Development Director for three years. Rob has a wealth of experience at UK, European and global levels within the shipping industry and with leading logistics providers across a wide range of industry sectors. Andrew Lowdon is based at PD Ports’ headquarters in Middlesbrough where he will further support the business development teams by providing research and analysis of market sectors and companies with which PD Ports seeks to develop commercialrelationships. Andrew joins PD Ports from development agency, One North East, where he was employed for seven years conducting research and analysis projects, which focussed on attracting inward investment to the North east region.

Established in 1917, this family-owned business is specialized in road construction, concrete and other civil construction work. Internationally MNO Vervat operates mainly in Suriname. MNO Vervat has an annual revenue of around € 300 million, an order book which is worth over two times the annual revenue and employs around 1,000 staff.

The tie-up of Boskalis Nederland and MNO Vervat will create a player with combined infra revenue of around € 0.5 billion with the ability to play a leading role at the upper end of the Dutch market.

Through the acquisition Boskalis will gain valuable knowledge and expertise for its international activities in the area of concrete and other civil construction. This will enable Boskalis to respond to the increasing demand for all-round solutions for complex port and offshore projects. Comparable expertise is already very successfully applied within the group on a regional scale in the Middle East through our partnership with Archirodon.