NDAL strengthens electronic clout

The West African specialist sea carrier, Nile Dutch, now speaks enough electronic languages to make it multilingual, according to Yeagam Reddy, regional manager. “On the local scene,” he told FTW, “we have just implemented the latest version of the LinerSuite ships agency system written by Durban-based Celebrity Software, which has been a supplier of ship’s agency and related intermodal, logistics and terminal applications for 16 years.” This, Reddy added, effectively gives NileDutch SA a world-class, webbased application, covering every aspect of imports, exports, cargo bookings, container tracking, client management and marketing, voyage control and container transportation – all directly linked with the accounting module. “It lets us talk to everybody, while also letting everybody talk to us,” he said. Probably its main talent, according to Reddy, is that the system provides direct electronic data interchange (EDI) links to the SA Revenue Service (Sars) customs system, the Transnet systems at terminals, and independent depot networks. “Even customs clearances processed by Sars and EDI releases to Navis terminals are automatically integrated to the consignments within LinerSuite,” he said. “All our developments are aimed at making the processes for customers and their agents easier and timeeffective, resulting in prompt delivery of our services and their cargoes.” The NileDutch global network is also just implementing its ‘WOW2014’ programme – designed to offer clients direct access to its e-commerce portal in the New Year. On the maritime operations side of its business, NileDutch – with a 25-year history working on global trades into West Africa – has, in the past two years, moved from being a multi-purpose carrier to a fully cellular operator, and adding the Far East to its routes. “This has been designed to meet the increasing demand in the region,” said Reddy. “Currently we have increased our vessels from 1 700-TEUs to 2 500-TEUs - with ten sailings per month out of Durban and Cape Town. Also, with the modernisation of many ports in West Africa, our principals are again looking at improving the frequency and tonnage in due course”.