Not only is this much more reliable than the approach used until now, it is also much more user-friendly and efficient than collecting information yourself from all kinds of sources. “When I order a book online, I can almost follow the package live,” explains CEO Allard Castelein. “With Boxinsider, we are now presenting a similar solution for containers. By developing digital applications, we are making our port even more efficient, safer and more reliable. Solutions like Boxinsider are good examples of this transition and so they are a perfect match with our ambition to be the world’s Smartest Port.” Most shippers, freight forwarders and other users still collect information manually from a range of websites about where their containers are located. That is time-consuming and error-prone. It can also cause planning errors and have costly consequences. Boxinsider puts an end to all that. Drawing on status information from container vessels and inland and deep-sea terminals, it can track containers, and determine expected and actual arrival and departure times for vessels, as well as container unloading and departures at container terminals. Users are warned about any delays or disruptions. ABC Logistics from Poeldijk is one of the ‘launching customers’ and it has seen the benefits of the system. “Boxinsider gives us – quickly and with minimal effort – a clear picture of the containers that we can expect at the various Rotterdam terminals,” says Account Manager Remco Verwaal. “It really is a very user-friendly application.” Boxinsider works as a stand-alone application but it can also be integrated with existing systems using a link.
Tropical Shipping strikes subscription agreement for Octopi by Navis TOS in St. Thomas
The terminal will implement Octopi to address a multitude of business needs that will improve productivity, accuracy, and efficiency at the terminal. Octopi will be the first TOS system implemented in St. Thomas. Located in the Virgin Islands, Tropical St. Thomas operates at 95,000-TEU annual throughput and handles 1,500 short tons of general cargo per year. Due to its geographical location, Tropical St. Thomas enables direct access to ports in the US, Canada and the Virgin Islands. Currently, container movement and tracking within the terminal operations must be done manually. Tropical selected Octopi’s modern, cloud-based TOS to improve inventory accuracy and operational efficiency as well as to provide better visibility to stakeholders both inside and outside of the organisation. “We are very excited to work with Octopi to improve efficiencies at the terminal,” Mark Chapman, Vice President of Business Operations at Tropical Shipping said. “Octopi’s cloud-based offering allows us to focus on the business instead of IT. We are very impressed with the full range of operating functionality and the overall ease of use.” Moreover, Martin Bardi, VP of Global Sales, Octopi by Navis, says: “Octopi by Navis’ powerful, agile and affordable TOS allows us to provide real value to these historically underserved businesses while also expanding our customer reach to smaller terminals, whose size belies their importance to the conduct of global trade.” He continued: “We look forward to implementing Octopi in St. Thomas for Tropical Shipping to help them better serve their customers internationally and streamline operations for their employees.”
TNPA supports World Maritime Day 2019
Created by the United Nations (UN), via the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Maritime Day celebrates the international maritime industry’s contribution towards the world’s economy, especially in shipping. This year’s theme globally, ‘Empowering Women in the Maritime Community’, provided an opportunity for the South African port landlord to reflect on the contributions of women in the sector and to promote its achievements in terms of gender equality in an industry historically dominated by males. “The International Transport Workers’ Federation estimates that women make up just 2% of the global maritime workforce,” said TNPA’s Acting Chief Executive, Nozipho Mdawe. “For Transnet, as the largest and most crucial part of the freight logistics chain that delivers goods to each and every South Africa, women’s development is a priority.
“Today women occupy half (50%) of the top management positions nationally within TNPA, three of our eight commercial ports have female port managers and women now fill 36% of all jobs across TNPA, bringing their unique characteristics to the workplace,” she said.
Ms Mdawe said TNPA would continue to keep the women’s empowerment agenda on the table, as encouraged by the IMO Secretary-General at the International Maritime Organization’s 2019 World Maritime Parallel Event in Colombia recently, which she attended alongside the Minister of Transport, Mr Fikile Mbalula and industry principals. She said it was also an exciting development that South Africa would be hosting the 2020 World Maritime Parallel Event in the port city of Durban next year during Transport Month in October. The South African chapter of the Association of Women Managers in the Maritime Sector in Eastern and Southern Africa (WOMESA), would also be relaunched by the Deputy Minister of Transport by the end of this year, to spearhead the advancement of women as a key resource in the maritime sector.
“TNPA will be calling for membership soon and will be closely involved in the re-establishment of WOMESA to promote gender equity, improve women’s access to maritime training and technology and promote their advancement to key decision-making levels in the maritime sector in Eastern and Southern Africa,” she said. In further celebration of national Heritage Month, World Maritime Day and National Tourism Month, TNPA also participated at the inaugural Maritime Heritage Institute Conference at Vaal University of Technology recently, held under the theme, ‘Reclaiming our future, advancing our past.’ The event from 25 to 27 September explored and showcased our country’s maritime heritage and related economic opportunities. TNPA’s Captain Naresh Sewnath, Senior Manager Pilotage & Vessel Traffic Services, addressed the event with a message of support and a presentation on the topic ‘Port Maritime History – Legacy, Challenges and Future Prospects’.
Speaking during the busy week for the port authority, Acting CE Ms Mdawe said, “We are reminded of the important role we play as custodian of the South African port system in preserving and building upon the strong history of shipping in South Africa. Yet at the same time, we are focused on carving out a new maritime future that is more inclusive and accessible to all South Africans. This ‘new’ maritime outlook includes a strong focus on the development of women and other previously disadvantaged groups.”
In line with this focus, TNPA’s ports and business units hosted programmes with key role players in the industry.
At the Port of Durban, GM: Port of Durban Moshe Motlohi unveiled #WomeninMaritime floor decals and Wall of Anchors portraits beautifully drawn by the port’s very own Samukelo Gasa, a Civil Engineer at TNPA. The Port of Durban also supported the inaugural annual Invest in Maritime South Africa Summit held in partnership with SABBEX and other emerging maritime enterprises. The event from 26-27 September in Durban provided an investment platform to potential enterprises to present bankable projects ready for investor consideration.
At the Port of Richards Bay, the programme included a panel discussion on Transformation in the Maritime Sector, featuring the perspectives of Harbour Master Captain Gugu Dube, Tracy Leah of Sturrock Grindrod Maritime, and commercial fisherman Sherief Khan. Wendy Van Blerk of Bidfreight Port Operations also presented a master class on safety in maritime.
In Cape Town, the Lighthouses and Navigational Systems unit welcomed visitors free of charge to a public open day at Slangkoppunt Lighthouse on Wednesday, 25 and Thursday, 26 September 2019, allowing them to climb the tower and learn more about the rich history and continued importance of this majestic lighthouse that celebrates its centenary this year. The Port of Mossel Bay hosted a Women in Maritime Business Breakfast, which featured a panel discussion on Opportunities within the Oceans Economy, Engineering, and Oil & Gas Sector, as well as a presentation on Port of Mossel Bay Port Development Future Plans. This was followed by a Port Open Day featuring waterside demonstrations and a port tour. The Port of Ngqura held a business breakfast and round table discussion on challenges facing women in the maritime industry, led by female industry professionals. Local learners were also treated to maritime career presentations and port tours. At the Port of Port Elizabeth, TNPA hosted an event at which industry representatives explored topics such as Women in the Bunkering Industry and A Seafar
ing Career within SAMSA. Various TNPA women spoke about their vocational experiences in roles previously dominated by males, such as marine safety, marine engineering, berthing and vessel traffic control. Bayworld and Extreme Projects presented insights on pollution and its effects on marine life.
The Port of East London’s industry gathering at Latimer’s Landing included participation from the Buffalo City Maritime Cluster, African Marine Solutions, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the South African Maritime Safety Authority. Representatives of companies such as Safmarine, Mercedes Benz South Africa, BLG Logistics and TNPA shared their experiences as women working in the maritime industry. Guests then enjoyed a short cruise aboard one of the harbour tugs.
Crane with lifting cantilever for Dutch customer
The Hoogtij terminal in Zaandam will go into operation in September 2019. This new Kuenz Barge crane is equipped with a cantilever lifting system, allowing the biggest vessels to travel underneath without risk of collision when the cantilever is lifted into upper position. With a track gauge of 48m and two cantilevers of 18 metres each, the crane is a “pretty big baby”. CTVrede Steinweg B.V. already operates 2 Kuenz cranes that have exceeded expectations, providing confidence in a repeat order. Intermodal cranes for container handling have become the most important revenue driver for Kuenz in recent years. More than 70 Kuenz cranes are already in operation solely in the Netherlands. With this order, Kuenz introduced a new generation of cranes, thus adding to the overall success of this project. In contrast to the traditional box construction, the main girder of the crane at the Hoogtij terminal in Zaandam will have a round girder. This aerodynamic main girder design results in a number of advantages for the operator. A smaller wind contact area requires less drive power, leading to lower energy consumption and reduces dynamic forces on the crane wheels, crane runway and structure.