Port and rail integration gets under way

In a move towards a more streamlined freight chain and greater transparency of information, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) is rolling out the Navis system at the City Deep Terminal in Johannesburg from June 30. This directly links up TFR with Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) and creates a jointoperation, computer-recorded supply chain between TPT’s inland port and major rail terminal at City Deep and the container terminals at the Port of Durban. And, after City Deep, the Navis system will, over time, be installed at other intermodal rail terminals and container depots in the Gauteng region. The plan is to initiate the system at City Deep, followed by about 13 other rail terminals across SA. According to TPT CE, Karl Socikwa, this is essential for a fuller integration between the rail and port operations, with a particular focus on the moving of freight from road onto rail – where the Navis SPARCS N4 system is seen as an integrated part of this process. “We have rolled it out to all our ports and are also implementing it at TFR,” he said – a move towards completing the entire TPT national network. It should be a positive move, according to Francois Blignaut, Johannesburg-based GM of MSC Logistics, a major rail user. He also noted that a big benefit of the move to the Navis system would be greater access to information, something that was always rather lacking in the past. “That alone,” Blignaut added, “would be a definite plus.” At the moment, said TFR information released to FTW, access to the system is divided into the three client access types defined in Navis N4 – shipping lines, 3rd-party access (packing stations and depots), and the customer access portal. Now, for TFR’s first rail facility at City Deep, a fourth access type – rail account holder access – has been defined and will be assigned to clients. Shipping line access, according to TFR, is the highest level of access and is assigned to shipping lines and/or container operators (customers with a commercial agreement with TPT). This allows shipping lines to view all containers associated with their respective lines. It allows the normal functionality – pre-advising exports, creating export bookings, view unit inspector, applying and releasing holds etc. 3rd-party access – used by the likes of packing stations and depots – has been created to be provided to 3rd parties so that they can assist shipping lines with the pre-advising of exports. The customer access portal – commonly known as CAP, and often referred to as trucker access – is predominantly utilised by trucking companies to check the status of import boxes before collection. This access is view only and allows any Transnet customer to access the portal using a generic customer account. The client is then able to check the status (transit state) of a unit to check if it is ready for collection or if the unit has been discharged from a vessel or not. CAP can also be used to check vessel visit details and to check if holds are in place on a unit or not. The new rail account holder access type has been created for TFR customers that will need to access N4. This access type is able to pre-advise for all shipping lines. “Rail account holders are created as shippers in N4,” said TFR, “and their views are constrained based on their organisation.” Users will require access to the Navis system for: ● Pre-advice for City Deep gate (by TFR freight rail account holder); ● Import release of containers railed inbound (by release authority); ● Transporter assignment for delivery of import containers out of City Deep terminal (by TFR rail account holder); ● Tracking of container movement.