New TPT system integrates port and rail solutions

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is on track for full implementation of a terminal operating system that will offer a single point of entry to customers irrespective of where they conduct business in South Africa. The SPARCS N4, developed by US-based Zebra Enterprise Solutions, will be implemented at seven marine terminals and 14 rail terminals by 2010, providing customers with a seamless and integrated service across the port and rail environment. Transnet’s central system is based at the company’s main office in Durban where the multi-site set up is in place. “Ultimately this will result in a single invoice to the customer for services performed by multiple operating divisions within Transnet,” said Mark Wootton, executive manager of ICT Capital Projects and Technology at TPT. “For the customer, the cost of doing business should decrease and the competitiveness of South Africa increase through a more effective, integrated supply chain.” Pier 1 in Durban was the first of the seven marine terminals to implement SPARCS N4. In February, Port Elizabeth Container Terminal went live followed by East London Multi-Purpose Terminal on March 14. The system will be rolled out to the remaining terminals by next year. It governs the movement of all container logistics and operations from gate to yard to vessel and offers users improved customer support, lower operating costs and increased stacking yard capacity, said Wootton. It enables greater control over resources for operations to quickly and intelligently respond to changes or disruptions in the flow of cargo. “Our progress has been watched with keen interest by global terminal operators like Dubai Port World,” Wootton said. “This latest version of Navis is currently used by just over 10 ports worldwide including those in New Zealand and Australia. Although Navis offers this multi-site, single-server functionality, South Africa is the first to take advantage of it to run more than one site off a single system successfully.”