ALAN PEAT THE LAUNCH by the National Ports Authority (NPA) of “Ports On-Line” – an electronic portal for both the shipping line and forwarding and clearing (f&c) industries – is on track, according to the NPA’s project manager for the scheme, Akesh Lalla. It’s a two release system, he added, with the first related to cargo document submissions – and aimed primarily at the f&c sector. From November 7, this release went on customer test in Port Elizabeth – the guinea pig port for the new system. “From December 5,” said Lalla, “it goes live to all customers in PE. “The next step of the roll-out is on February 15 next year, when POL goes live to all ports.” This all follows introductory and training meetings around the country. The portal will be accessible to all NPA clients, enabling them to submit their cargo dues electronically, submit and receive all documents like manifests and turnout reports, as well as track vessels and establish the status of cargo. The second release is the marine services section, mostly to be used by shipping lines and their agents for vessel estimated times of arrival (eta) and estimated times of departure (etd), tug booking, ordering of pilots and the like. The customer testing in PE for this second phase was planned for today (November 11), with two days training intervening on November 23 and 24 – then to go on-line in the windy city (PE) on November 28. It’s to go “all ports” in the first half of 2006, Lalla told FTW. “But release two will go live one port at a time over that period.” The sequence planned after PE is: Richards Bay; East London; Mossel Bay; Saldanha Bay; Cape Town and Durban – allowing for introduction and training.
