Port of Rotterdam conducted a trial with the digital information platform PortXchange, previously known as Pronto, and revealed a significant reduction in the average idle time on departure of Maersk vessels.
APMT, Maersk, the ship agent Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the towing services Svitzer and Fairplay and the local pilots of Loodswezen took part in the trial.According to the port, a baseline measurement amongst 177 ships had established that on average, vessels wait 47 minutes before leaving the quay after cargo handling at the terminal has been rounded off.
In efforts to mitigate waiting time and port calls, PortXchange allows the Port of Rotterdam Authority to facilitate the exchange of plannings and real-time status updates between all parties involved. Thus, the interested parties have an insight into when nautical services have been ordered and when they’ve been rounded off. As soon as the terminal operator can predict when cargo handling will be rounded off, it can contact the agent to order nautical services. PortXchange notifies the nautical service providers well in advance how late they are expected at the terminal.
A crucial part is to update the other parties in the chain of any possible delay at the terminal or in the provision of nautical services.
Michiel Zeevaart of ISS. Ivo Terpstra (APMT) explains that "You develop a broader perspective on the chain. Which factors can lead to delays? Who takes action when?"
The collaborating parties announced that they will continue using PortXchange.
For the future, the Port Authority is focusing on connecting with other segments, such as surveyors, water-based service providers like waste and wastewater collection services and suppliers on shore.
Source: https://safety4sea.com