Tracking system monitors every bump and vibration

Just knowing where cargo is at any particular time is all good and well. Being able to give clients the reassurance of what is happening to that very same cargo in real time is the ultimate. And this is what ICM Group has achieved with the development and patenting of its new G-Track system. “It started off as just an idea – something that would be great to have. About two years ago we set about turning it into reality,” says Kriba Naiken, ICM Group managing director: shipping. “Initially we were told that a real-time system not only tracking cargo but basically telling you what is happening to that cargo at any given time or place, was impossible.” But persistence paid off for the global logistics company and in December the system became operational. “We recently used it during the transportation of a transformer for Siemens from Rotterdam to Richards Bay and from there to the Medupi power station in Lephalale in Limpopo. Taking into account the value of the cargo, this system is phenomenal as it is monitoring the condition of the cargo 24 hours a day, seven days a week in real time, and should anything go wrong, we will know immediately.” Described as a unique, fully autonomous remote monitoring system that enables ICM to track movement of cargo during handling and transportation, it not only tracks the precise location of cargo, but also monitors every bump and vibration on all three axes. “It can even monitor the ambient temperature. What makes this system so unique is that it can be as complex or as simple as the client requires, and can be tailor-made to suit their needs. And it is done cost-effectively,” says Naiken. G-track consists of an onboard monitoring system that is a self-powered device that assimilates all movement data. Mounted on the cargo the device measures acceleration in all three aces such as the roll, pitch and yaw of a cargo vessel or the bumps and vibrations during overland transportation. All measured data is reported to an off board management server via a stable remote communications link in real time that provides a web interface to the client. “We therefore know what condition the cargo is experiencing at any time,” says Naiken.