Conference & Exhibition
20 – 21 September 2023
Tangier, Morocco
The world’s leading port and cargo supply chain event series – TOC Worldwide – welcomes you to the second TOC Africa, taking place from 20-21 September 2023 in Tangiers, Morocco – home of both Africa and the Mediterraneans’ largest container port.
For further information on the event please visit TOC Africa (tocevents-africa.com)
In the fast-paced world of supply chain and logistics, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) can help port users and businesses gain a competitive edge by providing real-time cargo visibility through the ICTSI App.
The ICTSI App is a secure operative tool that enables port users and cargo owners to monitor the status of their shipments that are loaded and offloaded from a vessel, and those that are hauled in or out of the port. Launched in 2022, the app lets users track their cargo at the Manila International Container Terminal and NorthPort – both in the Port of Manila, Subic Bay International Terminals in Zambales, Laguna Gateway Inland Container Terminal in Calamba, and Mindanao Container Terminal in Cagayan de Oro.
The ICTSI App currently has close to 29,000 users and will soon be available for customers of Adriatic Gate Container Terminal in Croatia, South Pacific International Container Terminal and Motukea International Terminal in Papua New Guinea, Onne Multipurpose Terminal in Nigeria, and Matadi Gateway Terminal in D.R. Congo.
“We understand the challenge businesses face when it comes to managing their shipments effectively. Our response is to develop an app that provides our clients with real-time data that could help them improve their logistics planning. By being able to track their shipments, our customers can generate data-driven insights to streamline their operations and lower their logistics costs,” explained Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president.
The ICTSI App has three main features that promote visibility and transparency – vessel monitoring, container tracking and truck tracking.
The vessel monitoring feature lets users track the container vessel that’s transporting their cargo and receive updates on the expected arrival and departure from a port. It also provides insights on pre-advice, loading and payment cutoffs – information that would help businesses align their logistics activities accordingly to avoid potential delays.
Container tracking informs users of the real-time status of their containers from the moment they arrive at the port up to their departure. This helps cargo owners manage their shipments more efficiently to ensure they reach the end destinations as planned.
Using the truck tracking feature, businesses that rely on road transport can monitor their trucks from the moment they enter and until they exit the terminal. This information can be used to improve fleet management and streamline ground operations.
Each of these features lets the user create watchlists to monitor multiple vessels, trucks and containers, and subscribe to status updates to receive push notifications on important logistics milestones as they happen. The app lets users easily share these updates, along with other information, to other stakeholders via email and other messaging apps on their phones for convenience.
“This app is a game-changer for port users and business who can leverage the transparency features to enhance their decision-making and improve their customer service. We are working to add new features and expand the app’s coverage to include other terminals in the ICTSI Group,” added Mr. Gonzalez.
The ICTSI App is available for iOS and Android devices. Users can also access the web app using a computer.
ICTSI continuously adds value to its services by investing in new technology and developing digital solutions. Over the past decade, the company has invested more than USD20 million in information technology for its flagship Manila International Container Terminal alone. These investments have paid off during the pandemic by keeping the terminal operations running 24/7 despite the disruptions in the global supply chain.
ICTSI currently operates 32 terminals in 19 countries, and was recently named as the preferred operator for Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 in South Africa’s largest maritime port.
Match funding awarded from the Department for Transport will see seven-figure investment in Scotland’s first large-scale shore power project. Port of Aberdeen leads industry consortium to pioneer large-scale landside and vessel-side shore power system.
Port of Aberdeen involved in three of the 10 flagship projects supported from the Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition.
Port of Aberdeen has announced it has been awarded funding from the UK Government for a multi-million pound project to design and deliver the first large-scale landside and vessel-side shore power system in Scotland.
The demonstrator project will cut vessel emissions at the berths by more than 80% compared with burning marine fuel and save in excess of 60,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent over the next 20 years.
Crucially, ‘Shore Power in Operation’ will pave the way for the roll-out of green shore power across North Harbour. This could slash the port’s total emissions by 78%, equivalent to an annual reduction of 34,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
Details of the ‘Shore Power in Operation’ project, part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition, were unveiled at London International Shipping Week. Port of Aberdeen is leading an industry and academia consortium, including Connected Places Catapult, DOF Subsea, Tidewater Marine UK Ltd, OSM Offshore and The University of Manchester’s Tyndall Centre, to deliver the ground-breaking initiative.
The project follows a successful Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC)-funded feasibility study completed in March 2022. The new funding will see the design and installation of shore power facilities at seven berths on Albert Quay and Mearns Quay in the port’s North Harbour which will be operational by April 2025 or sooner.
Shore power is considered the leading option to reduce vessel emissions at berth. It’s a well-tested technology that prepares the port for the future, accommodating hybrid or fully electric vessels. The benefits include cleaner air, lower CO2 emissions, and reduced noise. The port is also focused on collaborating with private and public sector partners to facilitate future low and zero carbon fuel alternatives for client vessels.
Bob Sanguinetti, Chief Executive, Port of Aberdeen, said: “Partnership between the public and private sectors is essential to decarbonise the maritime industry. Aberdeen has firmly established itself as a port of choice for innovation and collaboration in this area and the ZEVI funding further strengthens our position.
“We have a bold ambition to become the UK’s first net zero port by 2040 and are investing £55 million over the next 10 years to turn this into reality. Shore power is critical to achieving our ambition and we look forward to working with our industry partners to deliver this ground-breaking emissions reduction project.”
Port Houston in Texas has ordered 5 Konecranes hybrid RTGs for its Barbours Cut Container Terminal to support its long-term improvement programme covering channel development and land infrastructure investment.The order was booked in Q3 2023, with the cranes to be delivered at the beginning of 2025.
Port Houston is continuing to hybridize RTG container handling in its Barbours Cut and Bayport operations to meet growing container traffic in an eco-efficient way. Houston’s current RTG fleet consists of 116 Konecranes RTGs, of which 26 are hybrid RTGs. By early 2025, the hybrid RTG fleet will grow to 57 following this order and another one announced last October.
“Konecranes RTGs are very popular in North America and it’s good to see the hybrid version populating the RTG fleet of Port Houston which is always forward-looking, especially when it comes to eco-efficiency,” said Jussi Suhonen, VP Regional Sales, Port Solutions, Konecranes.
The hybrid Konecranes RTGs on order have advanced Li-ion battery technology and a battery management system that monitors the charge level and general health of the batteries. Konecranes can monitor the status of this system via TRUCONNECT® remote connection. The hybrid power system is completely modular and retrofittable. It includes an eco-efficient Tier 4f diesel engine that charges the batteries when necessary.